15 Killed in MPD Officer-Involved Shootings over Past Year

Reported by: Marcus Holliday

Email: mholliday@abc24.com

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Published: 1/22 6:16 pm

Updated: 1/22 6:57 pm

MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - More than a dozen people have been shot and killed by Memphis Police Officers in the past 12 months. The most recent was 24-year-old Steven Askew, who was shot and killed last Thursday at The Windsor Place Apartments on Knight Arnold after police say he pointed a gun at them.

Howard Manis, an attorney representing Askew's family, told abc24.com "He was a loving son, brother, cousin, and friend to many."

Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong said at a Tuesday press conference, "Our hearts and prayers go out to Steven Askew's family in their time of loss."

Askew become the 15th person to die at the hands of a Memphis police officer in a year, the second of 2013.

Director Armstrong told abc24.com his officers "are trained to shoot until they neutralize the threat." Armstrong added it's never a good day any time an officer has to kill someone, but the job of a protector of peace is a dangerous one. "Our officers are faced with this on a daily basis."

MPD, Shooting

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nomercy - 1/24/2013 1:42 PM

1 Vote

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keep up the good work MPD, don't rest though ther are thousands more that need to be dealt with. preferrably in this same manner. lets face it, society would be a much better place without people like this in it.

SuperD1966 - 1/23/2013 5:53 PM

3 Votes

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He pointed a gun at the police, he was shot and killed! Case closed...

concerned - 1/23/2013 1:22 PM

5 Votes

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Looks like theythe family is looking for a pay day. We (the taxpayers) will be footing the bill for that.

SuperD1966 - 1/23/2013 10:56 AM

7 Votes

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You point a gun at the police, you will more than likely get shot. What should they do, wait and be killed themselves? What was this young man doing? What to be gangsta, a criminal? This is all a part of it...

Joseph - 1/23/2013 10:04 AM

4 Votes

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@Excel- That's because people didn't act 10-15 years ago like they do today. Law enforcement HAS to have a different mindset then they used to, or they end up dead. Just ask officers Lang, Warren, Woods, and Hicks. That's 4 in the past 12 years from gunfire.

turtlekeeper - 1/23/2013 7:46 AM

4 Votes

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Keep up the good work. You guys should be able to take one moron out a month no questions asked and paper work involved. If you are suck I fine law abiding GOD fearing great person why are the police having any dealings with you then. Come on good boys and fathers don't have a rap sheet as long as my arm.

newdirt - 1/23/2013 7:20 AM

5 Votes

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I just love when the police shoot someone they all of the sudden become the most upstanding person anyone has ever met

Excel - 1/23/2013 5:55 AM

2 Votes

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todays officers are trigger happy nationwide,this is been happening more often Id say in the last 10 years. To protect and serve is not longer the mantra

Jeff Lebowski - 1/23/2013 5:33 AM

0 Votes

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Well said.

pkt2313 - 1/22/2013 8:05 PM

8 Votes

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Armstrong said the truth, you keep shooting until the guy is on the ground and not a threat to U or anyone else. I am so sick and tired of people slamming the police. They hate them until they need them and then they want to know why they took so long to get there. ANY police officer would have done the same thing, if not, then the officer would be dead, not the other. did he have a gun on him, did he pull the gun, ????? Yes, officers make mistakes, they are human but just like the director said, they do not come to work each day hoping to kill someone. think of the crap they go through when that happens, it is a lot of stuff and the media is on them, what their family has to endure, etc. plus lawsuits. MPD some of us appreciate you and what you do, be safe.

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