In a devastating turn of events, a police officer and an 18-year-old suspect lost their lives in an exchange of gunfire that also injured two other officers and a 17-year-old individual in Tennessee. The incident unfolded in the early hours of Friday when Memphis officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle.
According to interim Police Director CJ Davis, as officers approached the vehicle, the occupants opened fire on them, prompting the officers to return fire. The intense exchange resulted in three officers and two suspects being struck by gunfire. The suspects attempted to flee the scene, with one of them driving off. Police pursued the vehicle until it came to a stop a few blocks away.
Davis revealed that one suspect was swiftly taken into custody, while another was found nearby. Tragically, Officer Joseph McKinney, who was hit by gunfire during the altercation, succumbed to his injuries. Another officer was hospitalized, with his condition later being upgraded to noncritical. A third officer sustained a grazing gunshot wound and received treatment at the scene.
Both suspects, an 18-year-old who was driving the vehicle and a 17-year-old, were rushed to a hospital in critical condition. Regrettably, the 18-year-old suspect passed away at the hospital.
Expressing deep sorrow over the incident, Davis emphasized the impact of gun violence on the community and urged for an end to such senseless deaths. The Memphis Police Department is reeling from the tragedy, with Davis calling for collective efforts to combat gun violence.
Authorities have reached out to prosecutors, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation will spearhead the investigation into the incident. The circumstances that led to the initial report of the suspicious vehicle remain unclear as the community grapples with the aftermath of the tragic events.
