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Police: Suspect named in Memphis police officer shooting, manhunt underway to find him

By WHBQ-TV – Memphis, Tenn.
Aug 2, 2015

6 pm

A suspect is named and a manhunt underway to find the man who shot and killed a Memphis police officer.

Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong gave an update on the search for the suspect who shot and killed Officer Sean Bolton at 6 p.m. Sunday.

Police are looking for Tremaine Willbourn, 29, according to officials. He is considered armed and dangerous.

"When you look at this individual, you’re looking at a coward," Armstrong said. "He’s a coward. You murder a police officer for less than two grams of marijuana."

Here are the quick takeaways:

2:22 pm ET

Memphis Police Sergeant Karen Rudolph has just told FOX13 that investigators are working all possible leads to bring the people or persons responsible for killing Officer Bolton, to justice.

We have not been given any new information on the possible suspect who was arrested, nor any additional details on the investigation.

11:54pm ET

Memphis Police Sergeant Karen Rudolph told FOX13 that one possible suspect has been taken into custody for killing Officer Sean Bolton.

Officers have not released the name of this possible suspect.

MPD reports that one of the businesses near the crime-scene has turned over their surveillance video to investigators.

EARLIER:

A Memphis, Tennessee, police officer was shot and killed during a traffic stop in the Fox Meadows area of the city, WHBQ-TV reports.

Police have officially identified the officer killed as 33-year-old Sean Bolton.

Police told WHBQ that a call came in just before 9:20 p.m. Saturday requesting additional officers to the area. Police said Bolton was conducting a traffic stop when he was shot by the vehicle's occupant. Bolton was taken to Regional One hospital and died.

Police have not released a description of the suspect, who is still on the loose.

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At a news conference, Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong got emotional when he talked about officers being killed in the line of duty.

“We’ve been here before," Armstrong said. "Sad to say, we’ve been here before. This is my third time in the four years I’ve been director. It doesn’t get any easier. This is not only a difficult time for me as a director, but for all the officers behind me and our city, as well."
Mayor A.C. Wharton, who also was at Saturday night’s news conference, was asked about the number of guns on the streets of Memphis.
“We won’t make any political statements here," Wharton said. "But once again, this is evidence that there are so many guns on the streets in the wrong hands."

Please visit WHBQ for updates.

On August 1, 2015 at approximately 9:18pm Communications was alerted by a citizen through one of our officer's radios...

Posted by Memphis Police Department    est.1827 on Saturday, August 1, 2015

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WHBQ-TV – Memphis, Tenn.

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