Memphis mother says 'tough' love made her call police on her own son.
Adrian Perry recognized the suspect seen in surveillance video broadcast on the local news.
It was her 20-year-old son, Derriontay, and he appeared to be trying to rob a couple while armed with a handgun. She didn't think twice about what she should do. She picked up the the phone, called police, and turned in her own son.
He was arrested without incident.
"I love him," she told WHBQ-TV. This is what you call tough love, something a lot of parents need to start doing."
The 20-year-old approached a Memphis home on April 22 and asked for a ride from a man standing in the yard, police said. When the man said no, Perry pointed a gun at him and demanded his car keys, authorities said.
The man's wife came out of the home and he instructed her to get the keys, according to police. She returned instead with a gun, firing one round into the air as the suspect ran, the video appears to show. The would-be robber returned fire and the woman shot another round, police said.
No one was injured.
"And you out there armed and dangerous?" Adrian Perry said. "No, I don't condone that."
After police released the surveillance footage, it went viral on social media and was broadly shown on newscasts.
The mother says that she believes jail is the safest place for her son to be right now.
"I want to thank you, young lady, for not shooting my baby on sight," she said.
The couple were said to be visiting from out of town.
"I am so sorry — I don't know how to say it enough," Adrian Perry said. "I am sorry that your visit to Memphis had to be like that because of my disobedient, disrespectful son."
Derriontay Perry has been charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated assault. He is being held at the Shelby County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.
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