Officer Sean Bolton, 33, was conducting a routine traffic stop when he was shot multiple times on Saturday night. On Sunday, police identified a suspect who remained at large.
A police officer in Memphis, Tennessee, was shot dead on Saturday night while conducting a routine traffic stop.
AP / Memphis Police Deparment
The man used the officer's radio to report the shooting. Officer Sean Bolton, 33, was transported to a hospital in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds, but later died from his injuries.
Bolton had been a police officer since 2010. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and served a tour of duty in Iraq.
"Last night we lost not only an officer, but a great man, a dedicated servant to our community, and a family member," Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong said on Sunday.
At a somber press conference, Armstrong said that Bolton had apparently interrupted a drug deal.
The officer stopped after noticing an illegally parked 2002 Mercedes-Benz, Armstrong said. Bolton pulled in front of the car, turned on his spotlight, and confronted a passenger.
After a brief physical struggle, the passenger of the car took out a gun and shot the officer multiple times. The driver and passenger then drove off.
As of Sunday evening, the suspected shooter remained at large.
"We will exhaust all means until he is in custody," Armstrong said.
Local Memphis / Via localmemphis.com
Police identified the suspect as Tremaine Wilbourn. "When you're looking at this individual, you're looking at a coward," Armstrong said.
Police recovered 1.7 grams of marijuana from inside the Mercedes, Armstrong said. He spoke with emotion as he questioned how such a small amount of the drug could have led to the loss of an officer's life.
"You're talking about a misdemeanor citation," Armstrong said.
Wilbourn had been on supervised release following a 10-year prison sentence for robbing a bank, Armstrong said. He should be considered armed and dangerous.
U.S. Marshals are assisting the Memphis Police Department and have offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to Wilbourn's capture.
"All lives matter," Armstrong said. "Black lives matter. White lives matter. All lives matter."
Local Memphis / Via localmemphis.com
SOURCE: BuzzFeed
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