by MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis police officer died Saturday of injuries sustained more than two weeks ago when he was shot while responding to a confrontation at a library, authorities said.
Officer Geoffrey Redd was seriously injured on February 2 in the Poplar-White Station Library. Redd, 49, was transported to Regional One Health, where he died “despite the best efforts” of hospital staff, Memphis police said.
“Rest easy, Officer Redd. He will be missed,” the department said in announcing his death.
Redd served in the US Marine Corps before joining the police department in 2008. He also served as director of security at his church.
Redd also recently married, NBC affiliate WMC of Memphis. reported.
Mayor Jim Strickland offered his “deepest condolences” to the family of the slain officer and also to “his Memphis police family.”
“He honorably served his country as a Marine and his city as a police officer, and we have elevated his dedicated public service to the city of Memphis for more than 15 years,” the mayor said in a statement.
In the library incident, officers responded after a man initiated a confrontation with another person. When the officers tried to talk to him, he pulled out a gun and fired. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has said. Redd was hit.
His partner returned fire, killing the suspect, who WMC identified as 28-year-old Torence Jackson Junior.
Jackson had been arrested more than 30 times in Indiana, his home state, for crimes including burglary, arson, drug possession and domestic battery, WMC reported.
Employees and patrons were in the library at the time, but no one else was injured, according to TBI.
The office often investigates shootings across the state when officers are involved and worked on this case at the request of the Shelby County prosecutor.
Redd’s death is the latest upheaval involving Memphis police.
Five former officers have been charged with second-degree murder and other charges in the violent arrest and death of Tire Nichols last month. The officers have pleaded not guilty to those charges.
