A confrontation between Memphis police and an armed suspect turned deadly Monday night when officers responding to a 911 call were shot at and then returned fire, killing the suspect in his East Memphis driveway.
Officers were on their way to the scene of a 911 hangup call around 6 p.m. in the 5000 block of Parkside when police dispatch started getting multiple calls from neighbors about gunshots coming from the home, according to police spokeswoman Sgt. Karen Rudolph.
When officers arrived, the suspect allegedly jumped out of the bushes near his driveway and opened fire. An MPD officer shot the man and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The shooting marks the seventh person this year killed by Memphis police officers.
The street was blocked by crime scene tape and a heavy police presence Monday night while investigators interviewed neighbors and gathered evidence.
Police have not formally identified the man who was killed, but neighbors said his name was Johnny Taylor.
"He had a good heart, but he definitely had some mental issues," said neighbor Bobbi Williams.
"This is a safe neighborhood," said Bonnie Listengard. "It's usually so quiet. This just blows me away."
Copyright 2013 - The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tenn.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
