MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The 17-year-old involved in the deadly shooting of Memphis Police Officer Joseph McKinney is now facing additional charges of second-degree murder and reckless homicide, the Shelby County District Attorney's Office announced Friday, April 19.
District Attorney Steve Mulroy's office said he will not pursue any criminal charges against any of the MPD officers present during the shooting that led to McKinney's death, saying the officers' use of force was justified as they were responding to gunfire aimed at them.
The DA's office said on April 17 it will be filing a motion to prosecute the 17-year-old as an adult. It is not clear when the motion will be filed.
Previously, the DA's office told ABC24 the 17-year-old is being charged with attempted murder because the investigation into the shooting leads them to believe McKinney was killed by friendly fire, that is an accidental shooting by another MPD officer.
Now, it's unclear whether MPD officer Joseph McKinney was killed by friendly fire due to TBI's announcement. We are reaching out to multiple agencies to get this confirmed.
Because he is a minor, the name and identity of the 17-year-old have not been release. If the request is granted and he is tried as an adult, his name and photo will be made public.
Right now, he faces multiple charges including 13 counts of criminal attempt first degree murder, 13 counts of assault against a first responder, 13 counts of aggravated assault, as well as counts of theft and possession of a prohibited weapon. According to the DA's office, all these charges carry maximum sentences of 400 years, cumulatively.
On the day of the shooting in question, the 17-year-old and 18-year-old Jaylen Lobley, fired at several police officers. As MPD fired back, the 17-year-old was gravely injured and taken to the hospital, while Lobley was fatally shot.
Two MPD officers were injured in the shooting, while McKinney was fatally shot.
Just like his name, the 17-year-old's criminal record, if any, are sealed to the public. However, court records say Lobley had previously been released from jail on felony charges without bail by a Shelby County judge.
Interim Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis previously said the suspect shot McKinney and the two other officers with a Glock switch, a device that converts a semi-automatic handgun into a fully-automatic sub-machine gun.
Just a month before the shooting, Lobley was arrested in March 2024 for possessing a similar switch while stealing a car, admitting to stealing two cars.
Officers found the handgun after arresting him on March 5. The 18-year-old told investigators he took the gun from a car he was trying to steal about six months prior.
On March 7, Lobley was released on his own recognizance — with conditions that included agreeing to weekly call-ins and curfew — approved by the General Sessions court.
The deadly shooting that killed McKinney happened on April 12, in the early morning.
MPD officers responded to a suspicious vehicle call at Horn Lake Road and Charter Avenue around 2:20 a.m. McKinney was one of the officers.
According to MPD, officers were shot at as they approached the car, and they returned fire. Hit by the fire, two of the officers, the 17-year-old and Lobley were taken to the hospital.
Hours later, Interim Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis confirmed MPD Officer McKinney was dead. Lobley was also fatally shot.
The officer taken to the hospital, and a third officer also injured by the shooting are expected to recover. Although request have been made, the health status of the 17-year-old is unknown by ABC24.
