Memphis police have identified the white officer who fatally shot a black teenager during a struggle after he was placed in the back of a squad car at a traffic stop. The officer is 26-year-old Connor Schilling, who has been with Memphis police since 2012. Schilling has been relieved of duty – a routine procedure – pending an investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation into the death of Darrius Stewart, 19, at a hospital after he was shot Friday night. The state police agency has said it is not clear how long the investigation will last. On Monday, Shelby County district attorney Amy Weirich and Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong told reporters they requested the outside investigation. They…
Memphis police have identified the white officer who fatally shot a black teenager during a struggle after he was placed in the back of a squad car at a traffic stop.
The officer is 26-year-old Connor Schilling, who has been with Memphis police since 2012. Schilling has been relieved of duty – a routine procedure – pending an investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation into the death of Darrius Stewart, 19, at a hospital after he was shot Friday night. The state police agency has said it is not clear how long the investigation will last.
On Monday, Shelby County district attorney Amy Weirich and Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong told reporters they requested the outside investigation. They did not answer questions, but in his statement Armstrong mentioned the deaths of black men during altercations with police officers in other parts of the country.
At a news conference Wednesday, the Rev. Keith Norman, president of the Memphis chapter of the NAACP, expressed condolences for Stewart’s family and said members of the community should have patience as the investigation unfolds.
“We’re often saddened and disappointed at the slow process toward finding justice in police involved killings,” Norman said, adding later that the community should not rush to judgment about a shooting that could “ultimately divide our community.”
Police said Stewart was a passenger in a car stopped by the officer for a headlight violation. Stewart was placed in the back of a squad car without handcuffs as the officer checked on two active warrants for Stewart from Iowa and Illinois, police said.
The officer returned to the squad car to handcuff Stewart after a warrant was verified, police said. Stewart kicked the door, attacked the officer and began hitting the officer with the handcuffs, police said.
Police said the officer then shot Stewart with his duty weapon.
Relatives have questioned whether Stewart was mistakenly identified as the person with the outstanding warrants. Dozens of people attended a vigil for Stewart on Tuesday.
Police said Tuesday that Schilling was suspended a year ago for a DUI arrest. Criminal charges were dismissed, but he received 18 suspension days without pay. Police said Schilling also has one closed excessive/unnecessary force case found to be not sustained in 2013.
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Investigation Launched Into Fatal Police Shooting Of Darius Stewart, Unarmed Black Teen, In Memphis
