The Shelby County District Attorney’s office said Wednesday evening that there are indications that a Memphis Police Department officer killed in a shootout Friday was killed by friendly fire. The district attorney’s office said it will not proceed with murder charges against a 17-year-old suspect.
However, the 17-year-old, who was seriously injured in the shooting that killed MPD Officer Joseph McKinney and an 18-year-old suspect, has been charged with 13 felonies, the district attorney’s office said in an emailed statement.
The 17-year-old will not be named by The Commercial Appeal at this time as he is currently charged as a minor. The district attorney’s office said it has filed a motion to prosecute the teen as an adult.
The 17-year-old is charged with attempted first-degree murder, assault on an emergency worker and aggravated assault in connection with the shooting. He is also charged with theft of property between $10,000 and $60,000, possession of a firearm during the commission or attempt to commit a dangerous crime, possession of a prohibited weapon and evading arrest.
The district attorney’s office said the charges, if convicted, carry a maximum sentence of 400 years.
“The charges we are filing against this defendant underscore the seriousness of this tragic incident,” the district attorney’s office said in the statement.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Shelby County DA says Joseph McKinney may have been killed by friendly fire
