A late-night scene at a Memphis wing shop turned into a desperate rescue mission after a local man allegedly bit his own infant son during a violent public outburst. Jerry Stark, 34, is currently being held at the Shelby County Jail following a series of events that witnesses describe as a living nightmare.
The chaos began around 1:00 a.m. when police were called to Memphis Wings on North Hollywood Street.
According to an arrest affidavit, Stark was first spotted at nearby gas stations holding the baby and pleading for help. Witnesses say he eventually rushed into the restaurant, where he dropped to the kitchen floor and began squeezing the child so hard the infant started to turn blue.
As patrons and employees rushed in to intervene, the situation turned gruesome. Bystanders managed to pull the baby away from Stark, but not before he allegedly bit the boy’s face.
READ: Would-Be Assassin’s “Rambo” Hit List: Prosecutors Say Trump Was The Targeted Mark
One witness, who captured the aftermath on a Facebook video that has since reached over a million viewers, can be heard shouting that the baby’s skin was visible on the man’s lips. On social media, that same witness described the scene as heartbreaking, noting he couldn’t sleep after seeing the child’s injuries.
The baby was rushed by paramedics to a local hospital and treated for a noncritical facial injury. Further investigation revealed a frightening lead-up to the restaurant encounter. The child’s mother told police that earlier that night, Stark had pushed her out of a moving vehicle before speeding off with their son.
While inside the restaurant, Stark reportedly claimed his family was trying to kill him and that he was simply trying to escape. Outside, a crowd of people held the restaurant doors shut to prevent him from fleeing before officers arrived.
Police eventually took Stark into custody, where he was found “screaming and panicking.”
He now faces a charge of domestic assault causing bodily harm and is expected to face a judge on Monday morning.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
