ACTION ITEM! “Officer Down!” – Memphis officer slain

rom Fox News:

Authorities identify suspect wanted in fatal shooting of Memphis police officer during traffic stop

A suspect has been identified in the search for a gunman who shot and killed a Memphis police officer during a traffic stop, the city’s police director said Sunday night.

A warrant for first-degree murder has been issued for 29-year-old Tremaine Wilbourn, who is believed to be the shooter, Police Director Toney Armstrong said at a Sunday evening press conference.

Wilbourn is currently on supervised release for a 121 month sentence for robbery of a banking institution, Armstrong said.

Officer Sean Bolton, 33, may have interrupted an illicit drug transaction when he encountered a Mercedes-Benz illegally parked on a Memphis street Saturday night, according to Armstrong.

After Bolton illuminated the Mercedes with his spotlight, he approached the vehicle and was confronted by its passenger, who allegedly shot Bolton multiple times after a struggle, the director said.

Armstrong told reporters that 1.7 grams of marijuana was found inside the vehicle.

[…]

Armstrong said police are using all available resources to find the shooter and that officers are grieving, adding that “this is just a reminder of how dangerous” the job is.

“Sadly to say, we’ve been here before,” he said.

Bolton is the third Memphis officer to be fatally shot in slightly more than four years.

[…]

“The men and women in blue have certain rules of engagement that they have to follow, but at any given minute in a 24-hour day they’re dealing with folks who have no rules of engagement.

Meanwhile… God help you if you defend yourself from terrorists.

 

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3 Comments

  1. stilicho says:

    May Sean rest in peace. He was a good man and a fine officer. He will be missed by those of us who knew him here in the Memphis area. Sadly, he was not the only police-related casualty of that very same day. A sister of one of our retired officers was murdered in an apparent driveway robbery attempt earlier that morning. Her funeral will be held Friday at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Please pray these victims of senseless savagery here, as well as for their families and friends.

  2. pannw says:

    Stilicho, I am so sorry to hear that. Memphis is a dangerous place, but then all cities are getting that way.

    I just heard a brief news clip on the radio that the suspect in the police shooting has turned himself in. There was audio of his sister claiming that he only shot the officer because he was being ‘roughed up’. I guess that’s going to be the defense. With the current climate, its probably smart (and all he’s got) regardless of the truth. Will be interesting to hear what the driver had to say and if it corroborated the story. Didn’t they have him in custody and release him yesterday?

  3. TNCath says:

    You have no idea how awful our city has become. Pray for us.

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