An early morning operation in Frayser took a dangerous turn when a suspect was killed and a Bartlett Police officer was injured, as confirmed by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). The Bartlett Police Department (BPD), with the support of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), was executing a narcotics search warrant in the 1700 block of Dellwood Avenue when the situation escalated into gunfire, as reported by WREG.
According to BPD, the suspect, reportedly armed, exchanged fire with officers, which led to the suspect being struck and pronounced dead at the scene. During this, a Bartlett officer sustained injuries from the gunfire, and while securing the perimeter, Memphis Police (MPD) assisted in transporting the wounded officer to the hospital, where the officer's condition was stated to be non-critical, according to details provided by ABC24.
The DEA has stated that the officer was shot while entering the targeted home on Dellwood Avenue, and the injuries were not life-threatening. They assured the public that there was no threat to public safety following the incident, which has been deemed an active crime scene. This information aligns with the account given by FOX13 Memphis.
The TBI has been called in to conduct an independent review of the shooting to ascertain the events that occurred during the warrant service. In the meantime, MPD assisted with the scene by helping to secure the area and providing additional support. The incident also caused some disruption to the local community, as streets around Frayser School Drive and North Watkins Street were closed, though authorities stated MPD officers were not directly involved in the warrant execution, a tidbit gleaned from WREG.
FOX13 Memphis reported that the repercussions of the fracas extended to local schools, with Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) responding that, "Due to an incident in the surrounding area of Frayser-Corning Elementary School (FCES), some streets near the campus will be temporarily blocked." They assured that additional officers would be on-site to help with traffic control and stated, "There is no immediate threat to students or staff, and classes will continue as scheduled." This statement to parents was distributed via text and robocall to ensure safety concerns were promptly communicated, according to the update from FOX13 Memphis.
