Memphis Police Officer Shot While Attempting To Arrest Convicted Felon

Memphis, TN – A Memphis police officer was shot while responding to a report of shots fired at a residence on Saturday afternoon.

The incident began at approximately 1:45 p.m. on July 9, when police received a report of a stolen vehicle in the 4000-block of Navaho Avenue, the Memphis Police Department (MPD) said in a press release.

Police identified the suspect allegedly involved in the theft as 34-year-old convicted felon Giorgio Minnis.

Minnis, the nephew of the car’s owner, was alleged to have taken the vehicle to another family member’s home located in the 5900-block of Hickory Hill Square, according to the MPD.

Meanwhile, another call came into the MPD regarding Minnis firing a gun at the Hickory Hill Square location and “making threats to do harm to those inside the residence,” police said.

Investigators later said the suspect held several individuals hostage inside the home, including a seven-year-old child, WHBQ reported.

Minnis allegedly shot at two women at that location, one of whom was his sister.

Officers responded to the house and attempted to take the suspect into custody, leading to a physical altercation, WHBQ reported.

That’s when the convicted felon allegedly pulled a gun from his waistband and opened fire on the officers, according to the MPD.

One officer was hit in the leg during the attack, WHBQ reported.

Police disarmed Minnis and took him into custody without returning fire.

A fellow officer applied a tourniquet to the critically-wounded officer before paramedics arrived to transport him to Regional One Hospital, the MPD said.

The officer arrived at the hospital in critical condition and was later upgraded to critical but stable condition.

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said the wounded officer was alert and talking on Saturday and that he is “doing better,” WHBQ reported.

“Today serves as a constant reminder that each time our officers put on the uniform, they’re risking their lives to protect and serve us; they are certainly heroes,” Strickland said in a statement to WREG. “We thank the officer for his service and pray for a speedy recovery.”

The wounded hero has since been released from the hospital to continue his recovery at home, WREG reported.

Minnis was subsequently charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault/domestic violence, theft of property, possession of a firearm during a dangerous felony, and convicted felon in possession of a handgun, the MPD said.

His bond was set at $1,080,000, WHBQ reported.

Minnis first court appearance was Monday.

According to court records, the suspect has been the subject of at least 21 cases in the past and has had 10 warrants issued for his arrest over the years, WREG reported.

Many of his past offenses were for assault, to include a 2012 incident where he allegedly beat up his aunt after she asked him to leave, according to the news outlet.