MPD, City identify officer shot, say they will catch suspect
A Daily Memphian reporter counted at least 15 police vehicles outside of the Regional Medical Center at Memphis, including four from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. (George Walker IV/AP file)
Memphis Police Officer Oscar Torres-Molina was shot during a traffic stop Thursday night, the City of Memphis and MPD said.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young said in a statement that Torres-Molina had gone through surgery and was in stable, but critical condition.
The Memphis Police Department said Torres-Molina, 26, was shot during a traffic stop at Aloha Avenue and South Perkins Road.
“This was a direct act of violence against a law enforcement officer serving this city. We will use every available resource to locate and apprehend the suspect,” MPD Chief C.J. Davis said in a statement.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued a statewide Blue Alert for Danell Maxwell, 40, who is wanted for criminal attempted first-degree murder of a Memphis police officer.
“All of our hearts are with Officer Torres-Molina and his family today. What happened to him is an unacceptable act of violence that no officer should ever face while serving our community. He came out of surgery last night. Today, he remains in critical but stable condition. His loved ones are by his side,” Young said.
A city of Memphis official said Torres-Molina had been on the force for about three years.
Late Thursday evening, a Daily Memphian reporter counted at least 15 police vehicles outside of the Regional Medical Center at Memphis, including four from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
Danell Maxwell
Maxwell was last seen wearing dark clothing and an orange-and-green reflective vest. He is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with any information about Maxwell’s whereabouts are urged to call TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND or MPD at 901-528-2274.
Reporter Samuel Hardiman contributed to this story.
As a public service, The Daily Memphian has made this article free access for all readers.
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Memphis Police Department MPD public safetyAarron Fleming
Once an intern, he never left, joining the staff full-time in 2022 as an education reporter. He moved to public safety in 2023, where he covered some of the city’s biggest court cases, including the criminal trials for those charged in the deaths of Tyré Nichols and rapper Young Dolph. He also chronicled the Shelby County Jail and the deaths that have occurred at the facility.
He now provides suburban coverage, focusing on DeSoto County and the surrounding municipalities.
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