Who was Officer Joseph McKinney? Memphis PD Officer Dead Following Shootout with Teen Suspects

Officer Joseph McKinney has been identified as a Memphis PD officer killed in the line of duty in South Memphis early Friday.

McKinney was shot during a shootout between officers of the department and several suspects and was rushed to Regional One Hospital where he died.

The shooting also claimed the life of an 18-year-old believed to be part of the suspects, later identified as Jalen Lobley.

According to the Memphis Police Department, in a post to X Friday morning, the officers were called out to a “suspicious vehicle” at Horn Lake Road about 2 a.m. Friday.

As they approached the vehicle, the department said the officers were shot at and then “returned fire.”

Two officers as well as the two people believed to be in the vehicle were shot, MPD said.

“The vehicle fled and was located in the 400 block of Hewlett Road,” MPD said in the X post.

“One suspect was taken into custody immediately. One fled the scene and was located nearby. The two officers were transported to Regional One. Both suspects were transported to ROH.”

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— Memphis Police Dept (@MEM_PoliceDept) April 12, 2024

The deceased officer was identified as Officer Joseph McKinney, who had joined MPD in 2020 and was part of the Raines Station alpha shift.

“We’re not just concerned about our officers, we’re concerned about the public in general,” Interim Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis said at a press conference outside Regional One Hospital Friday.

“This could have been anybody. We’re just really, really disturbed at the boldness and the use of weapons in all these different situations that we’re seeing in our community.

“We have a family that’s grieving now. We have a wife that’s grieving now. We have the family of the suspects that are grieving.

“As a community, we have to do better. We have to ensure that parents know where young people are at three o’clock in the morning. We need to work as a community to do whatever we can with reducing gun violence in our community.” she added.

The second officer injured during the shooting was also admitted to Regional One, with their condition later upgraded to non-critical.

A third officer was also found to be injured after being grazed by a bullet.

MPD arrested a 2nd suspect for the shooting, a 17-year-old.

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