MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A man is dead after an hours-long standoff at a Frayser apartment complex Wednesday.
Police say the suspect inside the apartment, who had 11 active warrants, appeared to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The standoff began after a Memphis Police officer was shot while attempting to serve a warrant at an apartment complex near Vayu Drive and Raja Drive around 10:30.
Police say someone inside the apartment opened the door, and a shot was fired from someone at the rear of the apartment.
Police say the officer was taken to the hospital in non-critical condition. Officers did not return fire.
Two suspects were detained and one suspect was left inside the apartment, police said.
Troopers were out, blocking several sides of the complex. Officers in bulletproof vests carried large guns, and a K-9 team unit was on the scene. Ambulances and a fire truck were on standby.
“We tried to establish communication with him. He never responded. We even allowed family members to try to talk to him,” said Assistant Chief Shawn Jones.
Jones said after getting no response, officers then sent in a robot that found the suspect suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“When our robot entered the apartment. The doors were already open. When they entered an apartment, we saw an individual that was lying on the floor pretty much motionless. Just as a precaution we deployed gas,” said Jones.
Police haven’t provided any names or said what kind of warrants they were serving.
The entrance to the complex was blocked off in crime tape for hours, with a crisis negotiations team and command center vehicle parked out front. Authorities eventually opened the gate of the complex and allowed residents to access their units.
Those living in the area say sights like this have become their unsettling reality.
“I wasn’t scared or nothing like that. I was just annoyed because I know this Frayser that come with living in Frayser,” said one resident.
MPD said the officer that was injured was released from the hospital and the case has now been handed over to homicide investigators.