A vehicle crash that may have been caused by a wounded man driving away from a shooting killed a Memphis Police officer and critically injured another in the predawn Friday.
Memphis Officer Killed in On-Duty Crash, Second Officer Critically Injured
The crash occurred shortly before 3 a.m. Officers responded and found a gray Nissan and an MPD patrol vehicle had collided. Three men were found to be severely injured at the scene.

Memphis Officer Demetrice Johnson was killed Friday in a vehicle crash. A second officer was critically injured.
Memphis PD
The fallen officer has been identified as Officer Demetrice Johnson, 34. The critically injured officer has not been identified, the Commercial Appeal reports.
The wounded man was also apparently killed in the crash.
The crash occurred shortly before 3 a.m. Officers responded and found a gray Nissan and an MPD patrol vehicle had collided. Three men were found to be severely injured at the scene.
Officer Johnson and the driver of the gray Nissan were pronounced dead at a local hospital, MPD said in a Facebook statement . The second officer was hospitalized and in critical condition as of Friday afternoon.
Memphis Police said, "The preliminary investigation revealed the driver of the gray Nissan was also suffering from a gunshot wound," MPD said in the statement. "The cause of the crash and the location of the initial shooting are still under investigation."
The initial shooting happened about 2 miles away from where the crash happened, according to MPD.
"Preliminary information indicates there was a disagreement between the deceased male shooting victim and a male at the scene," MPD said. "No charges have been filed, and the investigation is ongoing."
Officer Johnson joined the Memphis Police Department in 2023. He graduated from the police academy in March 2024.
Johnson is survived by his wife and young son, the Commercial Appeal reports.
More Patrol
From the Show Floor: Traka
Join POLICE as we visit with Steve Atkinson of Traka and learn about the company’s asset management cabinets and key lockers.
Read More →
Team Wendy Shares New DREW Data During Personal Armour Systems Symposium
Team Wendy shared data about DREW, a biofidelic helmet-test rig built to simulate real head-to-ground falls and capture both linear and rotational head motion, during the recent Personal Armour Systems Symposium in Belgium.
Read More →
2026 US Police and Fire Championships to Unite First Responders in San Diego for 59th Annual Event
The 2026 US Police and Fire Championships, featuring more than 35 Olympic-style events and new competitions, will return to San Diego, California.
Read More →
FOX News Channel’s FOX & Friends to Host Live Audience for National First Responders Day
In honor of National First Responders Day, FOX News Channel’s FOX & Friends will host a live audience made up of first responders and their families. Police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and other emergency personnel have been invited to attend the live program.
Read More →How One Police Department Cut Crime by 46% with Smarter Patrol Management
Discover how one police department cut crime nearly in half using smarter patrol data. This whitepaper breaks down the real-world strategy behind a 46% drop in vehicle thefts, improved officer safety, and stronger community visibility.
Read More →
Axon Ecosystem Advancements Connect Critical Moments of Public Safety Response
Last week, during IACP 2025, Axon unveiled what it called the next evolution of its connected public safety ecosystem. Key launches included Prepared by Axon, new Axon Assistant and Axon Air Drone as First Responder (DFR) capabilities, and Community Shield and Community Link.
Read More →When Do You Transport a Wounded Officer Instead of Waiting for EMS?
Thumbnail for video series POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips with a yellow headline that reads When Do You Transport a Wounded Officer Instead of Waiting for EMS?
Read More →
Is Your Duty Holster Duty Rated?
The first – and worst – time I had to fight to keep my gun, my holster and duty belt held up far better than my training did.
Read More →
Streamlight Releases the Ultra-Thin Wedge SL
Streamlight has launched the Wedge SL, an ultra-thin, USB-C rechargeable light designed for users who want pocketable power.
Read More →More IACP 2025 From the Show Floor
Watch expanded coverage of IACP 2025 as the POLICE Magazine team walks the aisles at the expo and shares what we found interesting on display for chiefs from across the country and around the world this week in Denver, Colorado.
Read More →
