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Derrick Fifer Fifer had initially been dismissed as a suspect in a carjacking and stabbing case that occurred during the early hours of May 21. Reuters

Memphis, Tennessee, news reporter Brooke Thomas received an unplanned exclusive when a carjacking and stabbing suspect volunteered for a live interview with the local station WHBQ.

23-year-old Derrick Fifer was arrested by Memphis Police several hours after he spoke with Thomas during WHBQ’s newscast on Tuesday.

Fifer had initially been dismissed as a suspect in a carjacking and stabbing case that occurred early Tuesday morning. According to Memphis Police, a 22-year-old Whitehaven woman was stabbed nine times "stabbed nine times in the head and arm with a sharp object" during the incident. The suspect then allegedly stole the woman’s vehicle with two small children still in the car. The kids were later recovered in separate locations a great distance from the scene, reports WHBQ.

After being cleared by police early on Tuesday, Fifer walked up Thomas as she was preparing to go live on air. Speaking to WHBQ, he said he had nothing to do with the stabbing and wanted to clear his name. He claimed he had been asleep when the woman was stabbed and her car was taken. "I ain't fixing to stab no kids, I just got out of prison. I love my life," said Fifer.

His claims seemed to be legitimate, after Memphis Police confirmed to the station on Tuesday that he was no longer a suspect. But later that day, police revealed that their investigation had uncovered that Fifer was actually the person responsible for the carjacking and stabbing. According to the affidavit, Fifer was "placed in a six person photographic line up which was shown to the victim. She identified him Fifer as the person that stabbed her, robbed her, took her Cadillac Escalade and kidnapped her kids.”

Fifer was charged with aggravated robbery, two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, criminal attempt aggravated kidnapping, theft of property $1,000 - $10,000 to wit motor vehicle, and aggravated assault, reports KVVU. His bail is set at $750,000 and his next court date is May 28.

Tennessee