MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Shelby County District Attorney's Office will not file charges against any Memphis Police officers present during the shooting that led to Officer Joseph McKinney's death, the office announced Friday.
The news come after nine officers were relieved from duty with pay on Thursday, April 18, in relation to the investigation, according to multiple MPD sources. The Memphis Police Association confirmed with ABC24 the two injured officers were also included in those relieved of duty following the shooting.
On Wednesday, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy announced that the investigation into McKinney's death leads them to believe he was killed by friendly fire, meaning an accidental shooting by a fellow Memphis Police officer.
In an update on April 19, the DA's office said they will not pursue any criminal charges against any of the MPD officers present during the shooting that led to McKinney's death, saying the officers' use of force was justified as they were responding to gunfire aimed at them.
MPD has not shared why the officers were relieved, but this move is standard procedure for internal police investigations.
Originally, MPD announced that the two suspects were a 17-year-old and 18-year-old Jaylen Lobley, both were injured during the shooting. Lobley did not survive.
On Wednesday, Mulroy requested the 17-year-old suspect in the case be charged with 13 counts of attempted murder in adult court. Thirteen officers were on the scene at the time of the shooting. When asked why the teen wasn't charged with murder, the D.A.'s Office cited friendly fire as the reason why.
That Friday however, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced it would now include both second-degree murder and reckless homicide charges for the 17-year-old. The Shelby County DA's office said in a statement the same day this could equate to more than 300-year sentence.
“He’s looking at a potential multiple lifetimes in jail," said Claiborne Ferguson, Memphis lawyer, “He’s still likely to be charged and prosecuted for a number of these charges, especially if there is proof that he fired shots at the officers.”
Despite potential friendly fire, the Memphis Police Association told ABC24 the 17-year-old could still be held responsible.
“That doesn’t change that the suspects actions led to the shooting in the first place, and that’s what makes them culpable and chargeable with murder,” said Sgt. Matt Cunningham, MPA President.
There has been a precedent for this outcome before. In 2022, Jagger Freeman was found guilty of murder, a jury said his actions directly led to the friendly fire and death of NYPD detective Brian Simonsen.
Both McKinney and Lobley died in the early morning of April 12 after MPD officers responded to a suspicious vehicle call at Horn Lake Road and Charter Avenue around 2:20 a.m. There, MPD said officers were shot at as they approached the car, and they returned fire.
Hours later, Interim Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis confirmed McKinney was dead.
Two other MPD officers were injured in the shooting but are expected to recover. As of Thursday afternoon, the 17-year-old is still in the hospital.
Outside McKinney's former post at MPD's Raines station, a memorial in his honor continues to grow. People like his former fellow officer Brandon Williams continue to honor McKinney's memory.
“He would always come in with a smile no matter what shift he would come in," said Williams, "My father still works at this precinct here, so knowing that in some capacity he is protecting my father as well, I just feel like I had to pay my respect.”