MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A man is dead after a federal agent opened fire during an attempt to serve an arrest warrant at an East Memphis hotel Wednesday morning, sparking a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation review into what happened.
According to investigators, members of the Memphis Safe Streets Task Force, including DEA agents, arrived at the Extended Stay hotel on Poplar Avenue near the Jewish Community Center around 8:30 a.m. to arrest a fugitive wanted on felony drug charges in Shelby County.
Authorities say the encounter quickly turned deadly.
The U.S. Marshals Service said task force members repeatedly ordered the suspect to surrender before making a forced entry. Investigators say the man then pointed a handgun at officers. A DEA agent responded by opening fire, killing the suspect.
The TBI has since taken over the investigation, spending the day collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses and piecing together the moments leading up to the shooting.
Residents who spoke with FOX13 said they are waiting for investigators to determine exactly what happened.
“I think it has to be investigated by the TBI to see exactly what happened at the time of the shooting. We don't really know exactly all of the details,” one lifelong Memphian said.
Another resident, Melvin Taylor, said the facts of the case should guide public reaction.
“I think once the investigation has taken place and the details come out, then we'll know exactly what happened and where we should go from there,” Taylor said.
The shooting has also renewed attention on the Memphis Safe Streets Task Force, which has spent the last nine months targeting violent crime across Shelby County.
Some residents told FOX13 they believe the task force has helped improve public safety and reduce crime in parts of Memphis, while emphasizing the importance of a thorough and transparent investigation into this shooting.
“I've been here all my life. So there has been some positive feedback with the task force coming in,” Taylor said. “I'm positive about it. I think we can see some positive results.”
The name of the man who was killed has not been released.
No officers were injured.
The TBI's findings will be submitted to prosecutors, who will ultimately determine whether the use of deadly force was justified.
Download the FOX13 Memphis app to receive alerts from breaking news in your neighborhood.
Trending stories:
- Austin Drummond says he was prison snitch, wants DA kicked off murder trial, records show
- Arrest made in death of missing father found murdered inside abandoned Raleigh home, records show
- Boy seriously injured after shooting in Frayser, police say