Tennessee police officials on Sunday identified a suspect in the fatal shooting of a Memphis police officer, and an intense search for the man is underway.
Tremaine Wilbourn (29), faces a first-degree murder charge in the death of Officer Sean Bolton (33), on Saturday night, Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong said at a news conference.
Mr. Armstrong said Mr. Wilbourn was a passenger in a 2002 Mercedes Benz that was parked illegally in a southeast Memphis neighbourhood on Saturday night. Mr. Armstrong said Bolton saw the car and shined his squad car’s spotlight on the vehicle.
ADVERTISEMENT
Bolton then got out of his car and walked toward the Mercedes, Mr. Armstrong said. Mr. Wilbourn then got out of the Mercedes, confronted Bolton, and they got into a physical struggle, Mr. Armstrong said.
Wilbourn then took out a gun and fired it, striking Bolton multiple times, Mr. Armstrong said. The officer died at a hospital.
Wilbourn and the driver then ran away, Mr. Armstrong said. The driver later turned himself in to police, and police described him as a person of interest in the case before he was released without being charged.
ADVERTISEMENT
Mr. Armstrong said Bolton interrupted a drug deal in progress. Officers found about 1.7 grams of marijuana inside the car, which likely would have just resulted in a misdemeanour citation and a fine for Mr. Wilbourn, Mr. Armstrong said.
Bolton is the third Memphis officer to be fatally shot in slightly more than four years.