MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Police arrested 25-year-old Trenton Abston after he allegedly attempted to kidnap Mayor Paul Young by approaching the mayor’s home with a taser, rope, gloves, and duct tape in his vehicle, police said.
Officers said Abston climbed a fence into the gated neighborhood where Mayor Young lives on Sunday night and went directly to the mayor’s front door. According to an arrest affidavit, the mayor noticed Abston on his Ring doorbell camera wearing a hoodie and gloves. Concerned for his safety, Mayor Young did not answer the door, and Abston fled the scene.
Initial police reports suggested Abston visited multiple homes in the neighborhood, but later footage showed he intentionally targeted Mayor Young’s residence. Surveillance cameras also captured Abston’s Hyundai Santa Fe near the mayor’s home multiple times between May and June 2025.
Police located Abston at his workplace and arrested him. A search of his car revealed a hoodie matching the doorbell footage, gloves, a taser, duct tape, and a white rope. According to police, Abston admitted to researching the mayor’s address and driving by to confirm the location before deciding to confront him about crime in Memphis. He stated he was angry at Mayor Young and was armed with a taser when he went to the home.
In response to the arrest, Mayor Young posted a message on Instagram highlighting the dangers of rising political violence. He urged the community to reduce hateful rhetoric and prioritize safety and respect.
“The link between angry online rhetoric and real-life violence is becoming undeniable,” Mayor Young wrote. “Political violence and intimidation cannot become our norm. Memphis, we must choose love and protect one another, no matter our beliefs.”
The Memphis Police Department reaffirmed their commitment to public safety and assured residents that threats against elected officials are taken very seriously.
