MEMPHIS – At the request of 30th District Attorney General Amy Weirich, TBI Special Agents are investigating the circumstances that led to a fatal officer-involved shooting today just after 10 a.m. in the 200 block of North 4th Street in Memphis.
Preliminary information indicates one deputy with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office responded to a sexual assault call near this address. While talking with the alleged victim, the woman spotted the male suspect. The suspect led the officer on a brief foot pursuit during which, reports from the scene indicate, the individual pulled a knife and stabbed the deputy in the arm. The officer then fired at the man, striking him. The individual was transported to a local hospital, where he has been pronounced deceased. The individual has been identified as James Lee Kirkwood, DOB: 1/3/70.
This remains an active and ongoing investigation, as TBI Special Agents continue to work to gather any and all relevant interviews and evidence. As with any case, TBI’s investigative findings will be shared with the District Attorney General throughout the process for her review.
As is our policy, the TBI does not identify the officers involved in these types of incidents and instead refers questions of that nature to the respective department.
Any updates on this investigation will be posted online at TBINewsroom.com.
TBINewsroom.com 