DA says shooting death justified
Alexa Imani Spencer
Two Shelby County narcotics officers were deemed “justified” Monday in the shooting death of a drug suspect earlier this year.
The shooting occurred in the parking lot area of Gardentree Hotels at 6101 Shelby Oaks Drive near Sycamore View Road on Feb. 7.
Members of the Shelby County Sheriff's Department Narcotics Division arrived on the scene to serve Jason Hill, 40, arrest warrants for drug trafficking. During an attempted detainment, Hill began firing a handgun at the officers while running away, according to a press release.
Two officers returned shots. Hill was struck multiple times and died. Officers found one handgun near Hill's body and another in his waistband. Toxicology reports showed Hill had amphetamine, methamphetamine and the anti-anxiety medication alprazolam in his system, according to the release.
Officers were not wearing body cameras.
Some video of the incident was captured by hotel surveillance and can be found on the District Attorney's site.
“The suspect (Hill) immediately fled from officers, while drawing a weapon and firing at them,” Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich said in a letter to Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr explaining that her office would not file charges. “A jury presented with this scenario would be hard pressed to find officers guilty of a crime.”
Alexa Imani Spencer covers suburbs and breaking news for the Commercial Appeal. Reach her at alexa.spencer@ commercialappeal.com or 901-3049740. Find her on Twitter: @Alexaimani