At the request of 30th Judicial District Attorney General Steve Mulroy, TBI agents continue to investigate a fatal officer-involved shooting in Memphis Thursday morning.
Preliminary information indicates that the incident occurred at approximately 6:12 a.m. in the 1700 block of Dellwood Avenue, where Bartlett Police Department officers, assisted by agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Drug Investigation Division conducted a search warrant as part of a joint ongoing narcotics investigation. As authorities made entry into the home, a subject inside, Augusto Columbie (DOB 10/07/48), who brandished and shot his firearm, resulting in at least one officer returning fire, striking Columbie. He was pronounced deceased on the scene. A BPD officer was injured after being struck by gunfire and transported to a local hospital in non-critical condition.
TBI agents are working to independently determine the series of events leading to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews. Throughout the process, investigative findings will be shared with the District Attorney General for his further review and consideration. The TBI acts solely as fact-finders in its cases and does not determine whether the actions of an officer were justified in these types of matters. That decision rests with the District Attorney General requesting TBI’s involvement.
The TBI does not identify the officers involved in these types of incidents and instead refers questions of that nature to the respective department to answer as it sees fit.
Any available updates on this investigation will be posted online at TBINewsroom.com.
TBINewsroom.com 