Officer Joseph McKinney of the Memphis Police Department was shot and killed early Friday morning while checking on a suspicious vehicle.Memphis PD/Facebook
A Memphis Police officer died Friday at a local hospital after he was shot in an early morning gunfight in South Memphis. A second officer was critically wounded and has since been upgraded to non-critical.
Officer Joseph McKinney died at Regional One Hospital, according to interim Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn "C.J." Davis.
The Commercial Appeal reports an 18-year-old suspect also died from wounds suffered in the exchange of gunfire.
A third officer was "grazed" by a bullet during the shootout, MPD said. That officer is also being treated at Regional One.
Police say the incident began with a call about a "suspicious vehicle.” As officers approached the vehicle, the department said the officers were shot at and then "returned fire." Officer McKinney and two other officers were shot, two people in the vehicle were also hit.
Police say the suspects drove away but were soon located and taken into custody.
The Shelby County District Attorney's office said the deceased 18-year-old suspect, named Jaylen Lobley, had been arrested and released in March on his own recognizance. Lobley, court records show, was arrested March 5 this year and charged with theft of property $10,000-$60,000, unlawful possession of a firearm, prohibited weapons (having a Glock switch) and vandalism.
Officer McKinney joined the Memphis PD in 2020. He is survived by his wife.
