MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Two Memphis officers who fatally shot a man in the parking lot of a Parkway Village apartment complex will not face any charges, and have been cleared to return to work in a limited capacity.
Officers Ned Aufdenkamp and Matthew Dyess were called to investigate a noise complaint at a nearby apartment complex just before 10 p.m. on January 17. During a check of the area they found 24-year-old Steven Askew slumped over a vehicle in the parking lot of Windsor Place Apartments. According to the officers, they approached the vehicle to check on the man and saw a handgun inside the vehicle. As they knocked on the window Askew awoke and acknowledged the officers, then pointed his gun at them. Both officers fired, fatally wounding Askew.
Askew's family called the officers' actions "reckless," and hired an attorney.
"Officers with the Memphis Police Department shot and unjustifiably killed Steven Askew," stated Howard Manis, the attorney representing Steven Askew's family, at a Jan. 22 press conference. "Steven Askew was killed due to the blatant disregard of his civil rights and welfare."
Both officers were relived of duty with pay immediately following the incident, per department policy. Information surrounding the case was presented to the Attorney General's Office, which determined that no criminal charged would be filed.
On Feb. 15, an MPD spokesperson stated Officers Aufdenkamp and Dyess have been approved to return to work on non-enforcement duty, meaning they will not actively patrol, pending the outcome of an administrative hearing.
