A manhunt continued today following the fatal shooting of a police officer who was killed in Memphis the previous night during a traffic stop, police officials said.
Police were alerted about Saturday night that an officer had been shot multiple times, and the officer was then transported in critical condition to a hospital, where he died, Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong said during a news conference.
Memphis Police identified the slain officer as Sean Bolton, 33. Police also said that a civilian had used Bolton's radio to notify police about the shooting. No further details were released.
Armstrong said police have not made an arrest and the suspect is on the run. He said police are using all available resources to find the shooter.
Police are looking for potential witnesses and are asking for members of the public who have information about the suspect to come forward. No suspects have been publicly identified.
Armstrong said officers are grieving, adding that "this is just a reminder of how dangerous" the job is. "Sadly to say, we've been here before," he said. Bolton is the third Memphis officer to be fatally shot in slightly more than four years.
Memphis Mayor A.C. Wharton Jr. Said Bolton's death "speaks volumes about the inherent danger of police work" and asked others to "pray for the family and pray for our city." During past police shootings, both Wharton and Armstrong have said too many violent criminals are out on the street and have easy access to guns.
