MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A man is in critical condition after an officer-involved shooting near an elementary school in the Vollintine-Evergreen area Monday morning.
At around 10:45 a.m., the Memphis Police Department responded to a call regarding a man armed with a rifle at an apartment complex on North Cabana Circle.
Police located him near Vollintine Elementary at Hawthorne Street and Vollintine Avenue. They say they pleaded with him to put down the weapon.
For reasons now under investigation, an officer then shot the suspect and he dropped the rifle. The MPD says the man was taken to Regional One in critical condition. His name has not been released.
The elementary school went on lockdown, but it has since been lifted.
Police say the man’s rifle had more than 100 rounds of ammunition.
Michael Barfield a security guard at the nearby University Gardens Manor apartments told WREG that guards called police after seeing the man walking down Vollintine, shooting a rifle in the air. They helped police at the scene.
“I’m glad that I was one of them that helped save the day helped other people get saved innocent standby people in their houses because a bullet has no name in it. If you’re shooting in the air, it gotta come down,” said Barfield.
“For circumstances still being investigated and sorted out, one officer did discharge his weapon, and the officers immediately rendered first aid,” said Assistant Chief of Police Services Don Crowe.
The guard said the man did not enter the apartment complex and doesn’t live there.