Police, car exchange shots in Memphis.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation released a summary statement of an apparent Memphis police officer-involved shooting that took place in the Berclair area Tuesday evening.
According to TBI, who is investigating the shooting at the request of the Shelby County District Attorney General, evidence at the scene indicated an exchange of gunfire occurred as the Memphis police officer approached a vehicle, initially described by police as a silver-colored Infiniti, around 8 p.m in the 3400 block of Summer Ave.
Police initiated the traffic stop for a license plate violation, TBI said. The officer was not injured.
According to the Memphis police’s version of events, the possible suspect was identified after investigators began contacting local hospitals to see if anyone was brought in with gunshot wounds.
TBI’S statement elaborated on the search for the suspect, slightly, but it’s not clear what evidence TBI found to indicate the officer and the occupants of the vehicle fired at each other. Memphis police said a gun was found on the ground at the scene following the shooting.
“Shortly thereafter, a woman arrived at a nearby hospital with a gunshot wound, who Memphis police have indicated could be connected to the incident. The TBI is working to independently determine the woman’s connection, order of events, number of shots fire, and other relevant details,” the statement read.
Currently, the injured suspect has not been identified by police.
TBI has not identified the officer involved in the shooting, a customary decision that aligns with previous TBI investigations of officer-involved shootings in Tennessee.
The officer that fired their weapon is on administrative leave, which is also standard procedure.
By Wednesday afternoon, Memphis police had not named the suspect, and it was unclear if that suspect was still in critical condition.