Memphis police officer Joseph McKinney may have been killed by friendly fire. What does that mean?
Memphis Police Department officer Joseph McKinney was killed in the line of duty, and now it's believed it was from friendly fire.
On Wednesday, the Shelby County District Attorney's office released a statement indicating that McKinney, who was killed in a shootout Friday, may have been killed by friendly fire. The news prompted MPD Chief Cerelyn "C.J" Davis to release a statement Wednesday, stating that the department continues to mourn McKinney's loss and that, "We continue to support Officer McKinney's family and the Memphis Police Department in honor of his valor."
As of Thursday afternoon, no other information in the case had been released.
What is friendly fire?
The term friendly fire is usually heard in terms of the military. Oxford defines it as, "weapon fire coming from one's own side, especially fire that causes accidental injury or death to one's own forces."
In the Memphis case, little information has been released other than the evidence points toward McKinney's death being from friendly fire, according to the DA's office. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is currently investigating the incident.
Does the 17-year-old face charges in the death of Memphis officer Joseph McKinney?
The DA's office said they will not be proceeding with murder charges against a 17-year-old suspect in the death of McKinney.
However, the 17-year-old, who was critically injured in the shootout which left McKinney and an 18-year-old dead, has been charged with 13 felony counts, according to the DA's office.
"Although current information indicates friendly fire, we believe the 17-year-old’s reprehensible actions are still the real cause of Officer McKinney’s death. Should a legal avenue open up for additional prosecution, be assured we will pursue it," the DA's office said in a press release on the office's website.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What is friendly fire? DA believes it led to Memphis officer's death
