MEMPHIS, TN – A deadly early morning shootout on Friday resulted in the deaths of a Memphis police officer and an 18-year-old suspect. The fallen officer and two others were shot during the incident. One of them is in a non-critical condition, and the other suffered a bullet graze. The 18-year-old suspect, who had a record of illegal weapon possession and was previously released without bond, was also killed in the shootout.
Officer Joseph McKinney lost his life while responding to a suspicious vehicle report at Horn Lake Road and Charter Avenue in Whitehaven. Interim Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis shared during a press briefing on Friday that as officers approached the suspicious vehicle, a dark-colored sedan, they were shot at by the two male suspects inside.
The pair managed to escape in the vehicle but stopped shortly afterward while being pursued by the police. Though one suspect was apprehended immediately, the other was caught nearby after a brief chase. Both suspects were critically injured during the firefight and were rushed to a hospital, where the 18-year-old succumbed to his injuries. The other surviving suspect, aged 17, is expected to recover. Their identities have not been disclosed.
Officer McKinney also suffered fatal gunshot wounds. Chief Davis expressed her grief over the incident, stating that both the officer’s family and the suspects’ families are mourning over the tragedy.
The 18-year-old suspect had a criminal past and had been arrested last month in a stolen vehicle. He was also found in possession of an illegally modified semi-automatic weapon. Despite the grave charges, including possession of two stolen vehicles and a programming device used for car theft, he was released without a bond.