MEMPHIS, TN – Two Memphis police officers were shot Friday morning around 8:00 a.m. It happened in the 1000 block of Mendenhall Cove, near Summer Avenue. Both officers were members of the Organized Crime Unit, and they were serving a drug-related warrant.
Police Director Toney Armstrong said a suspect inside the home shot 32-year-old Officer Martoiya Lang and 32-year-old Officer William Vrooman, as the officers forced their way into the home.
Officer Lang died, after being shot in the torso multiple times. Police say Lang was wearing body armor. Officer Lang had been with the MPD since 2003. She leaves behind four daughters, ages 2, 12, 13 and 14 years old.
Officer Vromah was taken to The MED in stable condition after being shot in the leg. He has since been released from the hospital. He’s been with the MPD since 2007.
One suspect was shot, and is in critical condition at The Med. Another person inside the house is in custody. Police say one of the suspects, a 26-year-old male, was out on bond for a misdemeanor drug charge. The shooter, a 21-year-old male, has no criminal history with MPD. Investigators say a 9mm pistol with a high capacity magazine was used to shoot the officers.
Neighbors tell abc24.com they saw a white van pull up, and then they heard at least 20 shots. One neighbor tells us they knew drugs were being sold out of the house, but they’ve never had problems with the people who live there.
A fund has been set up for the daughters of Officer Lang through SunTrust in the name of Martoiya Lang.
