Sandy MaloneMemphis, TN – A Memphis police officer remains in critical condition at Regional One Hospital after he was shot by a career criminal inside the Poplar-White Station Library in East Memphis on Thursday.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) said the Memphis Police Department (MPD) received a trespassing call from a business located near the library at noon on Feb. 2, WMC reported.
Thirty minutes later, police were called after the same suspect entered the Poplar-White Station Library and got into a confrontation with another patron.
Two officers responded to the library located in the 5000-block of Poplar Avenue, WMC reported.
As soon as they walked inside and confronted the suspect, police said 28-year-old Torence Jackson Jr. of Indianapolis, Indiana, pulled out a weapon and shot one of the officers in the head.
The other officer returned fire and fatally shot Jackson, according to WMC.
MPD said the officer was gravely wounded in the exchange of gunfire and had been transported to the hospital in “extremely critical condition.”
He was taken directly into surgery and remained in critical condition on Friday afternoon.
MPD has not yet released the name of the wounded hero, nor any specific details of his medical condition, WMC reported.
District Attorney General Steve Mulroy requested that TBI head up the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
At the request of 30th DAG Steve Mulroy, TBI special agents have been requested to investigate an officer-involved shooting in the 5100 block of Poplar Ave. in Memphis.@TBIKeli will provide an update from the scene when possible.
All updates & information will be shared here. pic.twitter.com/VfrCwZsn61
— Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (@TBInvestigation) February 2, 2023
The Indianapolis Metro Police Department’s inmate database indicated that Jackson was a career criminal who had been arrested more than 30 times in Indianapolis that included charges for robbery, criminal trespassing, resisting arrest, possession of and dealing marijuana, and battery by means of a deadly weapon, WMC reported.
The monster who gunned down a #Memphis police officer yesterday has been identified as Torence Jackson Jr. WREG reports the guy has been arrested 32 times since 2017. And yet this predator was on the streets — thanks to progressive Democrats and their pro-criminal policies. pic.twitter.com/PFygQfUsi9
— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) February 3, 2023
Jackson was facing charges of theft and resisting arrest in Indiana at the time of his death, WHBQ reported.
The fatal shooting was not Jackson’s first encounter with the Memphis police, either, WHBQ reported.
MPD records showed officers arrested Jackson a month ago on charges of unlawful possession of both a weapon and a controlled substance.
That incident occurred at about 11 a.m. on Dec. 31, 2022 when officers responded to a 911 call from employees at Home Star Storage at 3929 Summer Avenue, WHBQ reported.
The police report showed an employee had found a suspicious male lurking outside the business who appeared to be carrying a long weapon in his pants.
When officers confronted the suspect, Jackson tried to flee on foot, WHBQ reported.
Officers pursued the suspect and apprehended him behind the business where Jackson had allegedly stashed two rifles and a bag of ammunition next to a fence.
Police said the suspect became irate when officers tried to question him, WHBQ reported.
Jackson refused to give officers his name and said he was from out of state.
Police searched the suspect and found another bag of ammunition and a bag that contained 6.5 grams of marijuana in his pockets, WHBQ reported.
The police report did not indicate how long Jackson remained in custody after his arrest in Memphis.
Holly Matkin
