Crime
Help find missing 14-year-old Alia Shempert, last seen getting into black Tesla
The Memphis Police Department is actively searching for 14-year-old Alia Shempert, who was reported missing on Friday afternoon after she was last seen getting into a black Tesla with an unidentified male in the Berclair neighborhood.
Alia was last seen around 4:25 p.m. on July 18, 2025, in the 4300 block of Jamaica Drive.
Authorities say she entered the vehicle—described as a black or gray Tesla—occupied by a white male and several other individuals.
The circumstances of the encounter remain under investigation.
Alia is described as 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighing approximately 160 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes.
At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing a black shirt, black pants, and pink Puma slippers.
Disturbingly, Alia’s personal belongings—including her phone, iPad, and Cash App card—were discovered discarded in the street near the area where she was last seen.
The Memphis Police Department’s Missing Persons Bureau is leading the investigation and is urging the public to come forward with any information that may assist in locating Alia.
If you have seen Alia Shempert or know her whereabouts, please contact the Memphis Police Department at (901) 545-COPS (2677) or the Missing Persons Unit at (901) 636-4479.
Christian County, Mo. — Authorities have identified the suspect accused of fatally shooting a deputy with the Christian County Sheriff’s Office during a traffic stop as Richard Bird.
At the time the Blue Alert was issued, the suspect had not yet been taken into custody.
According to law enforcement officials, the deputy initiated a traffic stop involving a 2001 Chevrolet extended cab pickup truck along State Highway 160 near Highlandville.
During the stop, the suspect allegedly opened fire, fatally wounding the deputy before fleeing the scene.
The suspect was reported to have traveled southbound on Highway 160 following the shooting.
Authorities described the suspect vehicle as a black 2001 Chevrolet extended cab pickup truck equipped with a silver brush guard, black body trim, tinted rear windows, and a three-ball trailer hitch. The vehicle was bearing Missouri license plate 9MG-X36.
A statewide Blue Alert was issued to notify the public and assist in locating the suspect.
Law enforcement officials urged residents not to approach the vehicle or suspect if located, but instead to immediately call 911 and provide detailed information while remaining at a safe distance.
Christian County is situated south of Springfield and north of Branson, an area that sees significant travel due to its proximity to the Ozarks.
Multiple agencies across the region coordinated efforts in response to the alert.
Authorities have not yet released further details regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting or the status of the investigation.
Law enforcement officials expressed their condolences to the deputy’s family, colleagues, and the community as they continue to pursue justice in the case.