Tennessee Grand Jury Clears West Memphis Officers After Fatal Police Shooting During High-Speed Chase Involving Stolen Car and Armed Suspects
TENNESSEE — A grand jury has declined to charge six West Memphis police officers who opened fire during a January 16 traffic stop turned high-speed pursuit that ended with two people dead and an officer injured.
The incident began when officers attempted to pull over a vehicle that reportedly had no visible license plate and was being driven with high beams activated. According to authorities, the driver did not stop when officers initiated the traffic stop.
Pursuit Escalates Into Violent Confrontation
Police say the driver, later identified as 22-year-old Megan Rivera, fled from officers, leading them on a pursuit through the area.
During the chase, authorities report that the vehicle rammed multiple police cruisers. At one point, the vehicle allegedly ran over an officer’s legs during the confrontation.
Officials say the situation escalated rapidly, prompting six officers to discharge their weapons.
Rivera and her passenger, 30-year-old De’Angelo Brown, were both fatally shot during the encounter.
Stolen Vehicle and Weapons Discovered
After the scene was secured, authorities reported that the vehicle involved had been stolen. Investigators also said drugs and a rifle were recovered from inside the car.
Officials have not released additional details regarding the type or quantity of drugs allegedly found.
The injured officer was treated following the incident. No additional officer injuries were reported.
Grand Jury Decision
Following a review of the evidence, a grand jury decided not to bring charges against the six officers involved in the shooting.
A grand jury’s role is to examine evidence presented by prosecutors and determine whether criminal charges are warranted. In this case, the panel concluded that charges would not be filed.
Authorities have not indicated whether any internal policy reviews remain ongoing.
Community Impact
The January 16 incident drew attention due to the violent nature of the chase and the fatal outcome. Police pursuits that escalate into shootings often undergo extensive review due to the use of deadly force.
Officials have emphasized that the decision was based on the grand jury’s independent evaluation of the facts surrounding the case.
The names of the officers involved have not been included in publicly released details connected to the grand jury’s ruling.
As more information becomes available, updates will follow.
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