MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis Police officer is in critical condition and a 22-year-old man is in custody after a shooting Friday during a traffic stop on Interstate 240.
According to Memphis Police, the incident happened a little before 4:30 a.m. on I-240 near South Parkway.
During a traffic stop, the officer was going over citations when the suspect began firing shots, striking the policeman approximately four times.
A backup officer returned fire on the vehicle, and the driver fled the scene in a black Nissan.
MPD said later Friday morning that the suspect had been captured. He was identified as Geronimo Kee, 22.
Kee is now facing charges of criminal attempt first-degree murder, intentionally evading arrest in auto, employing firearm with intent to commit felony, and speeding.
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The officer was out of surgery at Regional One hospital and was in critical condition, but stable, Interim MPD Chief CJ Davis said at 9 a.m.
“This morning’s shooting of an MPD officer is an unfortunate reminder of the dangerous situations that our officers face each day, and we stand with them in support,” Mayor Paul Young said in a statement. “We are praying for the officer to make a speedy recovery. “
Kee had an injury to his hand. It is unknown if it was from gunfire or glass fragments.
The suspect’s car was found on Dempster Street in South Memphis, about a mile from the initial incident. It was damaged, indicating it was possibly struck by gunfire, Davis said.
WREG looked into Kee’s background and found that he does not have previous records for Shelby County adult court, but in Fayette County, Kee was one of 11 charged in a disturbance at Wilder Youth Development Center when he was 18 years old.
He faced charges of vandalism, escaping custody of an officer, and inciting a riot after a disturbance.
Authorities say several housing pods were damaged in the incident and cinder blocks were used to break windows, doors, security mirrors and security cameras.
We asked Shelby County Juvenile Court what landed him in Wilder, but under state law, there was no information they could release.
This is the second shooting connected to a traffic stop in the Memphis area this week.
Sunday night, a Collierville police officer fatally shot a driver during a traffic stop after the man allegedly grabbed his gun. The TBI is investigating.
