MPD officer shoots man walking near elementary school with rifle, police say
By:
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A Memphis Police officer shot a man who was walking near an elementary school with a rifle Monday morning, according to the Memphis Police Department (MPD).
MPD said that officers were first called out to the University Gardens Manor apartments around 10:45 a.m. Callers told police that a man was armed with a rifle and was shooting it. A police spokesperson said that they do not believe anyone was hit by the gunfire at the apartment complex.
“We have to be more vigilant and just keep our eyes open for more incidents,” said Vollintine-Evergreen resident Jerry Johnson.
The man then started walking down Vollintine Avenue with the rifle, according to police. MPD said he began walking in the direction of Vollintine Elementary School and that officers repeatedly told him to drop his weapon.
“When you listen to the radio transmissions you can hear it over and over and over. Officers were very concerned what would happen if he reached the school with the rifle,” said Assistant Memphis Police Chief Don Crowe.
What happened next wasn’t immediately clear when MPD held a news briefing just before 2 p.m. But at some point at least one Memphis Police officer opened fire on the suspect, hitting the man, MPD said. Police recovered the man’s rifle, along with 100 rounds of ammunition.
“Individuals have not learned to deescalate tension, anxiety, so we can expect many different occurrences when it comes to crime,” Johnson said.
The man was rushed to Regional One Health in critical condition, according to police.
MPD said that the elementary school was placed on lockdown during the incident. That lockdown was later lifted.
“We have a community that’s been impacted, and we are very concerned for those that have been impacted by this event,” Crowe said.
About Post Author
