Alleged Memphis Cop Killer Turns Himself In

Tremaine Wilbourn, 29, ends massive police manhunt
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 3, 2015 6:08 PM CDT
Alleged Memphis Cop Killer Turns Himself In
   (Shelby County Sheriff's Office)

The suspected killer of a Memphis cop has turned himself in and ended an intensive two-day manhunt, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports. Officials were close to increasing the $10,000 reward money for information leading to his arrest when Tremaine Wilbourn, 29, turned himself in at the federal building in Memphis with his family, says the AP. A warrant had been issued yesterday on a first-degree murder charge. The officer who died, 33-year-old Sean Bolton, apparently came upon a drug deal Saturday night when he was killed. According to police, Bolton saw a car with another car stopped in front of it illegally and approached the vehicles, CNN reports.

A passenger then confronted Bolton, and after a struggle Bolton was shot several times; he later died in a hospital. The suspect and driver both fled the scene. USA Today reports that a police director yesterday branded Wilbourn a "coward," saying he had murdered "a police officer for less than two grams of marijuana. You've literally destroyed a family." Today, reactions are relatively upbeat: "Great job to all involved in putting the pressure on. He turned himself in," posted Shelby County Sheriff Bill Oldham on Facebook. "I will continue to pray for Officer Bolton's family, and all of his extended family. Thanks to my crew for working on this as well." (More Memphis stories.)

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