Two men dead, Arkansas State Trooper shot after exchange of gunfire during chase on I-55, TBI says – FOX13 News Memphis

WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — An Arkansas State Trooper shot and killed two men and was shot himself Thursday afternoon on I-55 in Memphis, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Police originally confirmed that the state trooper was shot to FOX13 around 2:50 p.m.

PHOTOS: Arkansas State Trooper shot in Memphis, police say

The TBI said that the Arkansas State Police began chasing a car with two men in it in West Memphis, Arkansas. At least one of those men had a warrant out of South Carolina, according to the TBI.

During the chase, at least one of the men in the car opened fire on the officers, leading at least one but maybe two Arkansas State Police officers to open fire on the car, the TBI said.

Both of the men in that car were shot and killed in the gunfire from Arkansas State Police, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

The identities of those men were not released during the TBI’s update at 7:20 p.m. Thursday night.

State police said that the officer who was hit is in stable condition with no serious injuries. FOX13 learned that the trooper was wearing a bulletproof vest at the time of the shooting.

Arkansas State Police identified the state trooper as 33-year-old Spencer Morris, a three-year veteran of the Arkansas State Police Highway Patrol Division. After being examined at a Memphis hospital, Morris was released and sent home, according to Arkansas State Police.

FOX13 crews saw a large police presence with multiple agencies at the intersection of I-55 and McLemore Ave around 3 p.m.

All lanes in that area were shut down for hours while those law enforcement agencies investigated.

Arkansas State Police, the U.S. Marshals, and Memphis Police were just some of the several agencies on the scene.

This is a developing story. Check back frequently and tune into FOX13 News at 9 p.m. for the latest details.

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