Shootout leaves officer critically wounded, Indianapolis man dead at Memphis library

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP and WISH) — A shooting at a Memphis, Tennessee, library on Thursday left an Indianapolis man dead and a police officer critically wounded, authorities said.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says in a news release that officers were called to the Poplar-White Station Public Library around noon Thursday. They encountered Torence Jackson Jr., 28, who had been the subject of a trespassing call in the same neighborhood about 30 minutes earlier.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Keli McAlister said on Thursday that Jackson had started a confrontation with another person inside the library, and he pulled out a weapon and shot one of the officers who tried to talk with him, McAlister said. The other officer drew his weapon, shooting and killing Jackson.

McAlister did not identify the officers by name. McAlister said all three were Black men.

The officer was taken to a hospital “in extremely critical condition,” McAlister said.

There were employees and patrons inside the library at the time of the shooting, but no one else was injured, McAlister said.

The small library, on a busy street surrounded by high-rise office buildings, restaurants and stores, was blocked by yellow crime scene tape, with two fire engines and an ambulance parked nearby. Memphis police officers and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents were talking outside.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is working on the case at the request of the Shelby County prosecutor. The bureau often investigates officer-involved shootings around the state.

Police use of force is being scrutinized nationally after five Memphis police officers were charged with murder in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols.