News Summary
A Memphis police officer was involved in a fatal shooting at a Shell gas station after confronting an armed suspect, Patrick Brian Shoptaw, who allegedly attacked another individual. The incident unfolded early in the morning when police responded to a report of a stabbing. After attempting to detain the suspect, he charged at the officers with a screwdriver, leading to the officer discharging his weapon. The suspect later died from his injuries, while the stabbing victim has since been released from the hospital.
Memphis, TN – A Memphis police officer was involved in a fatal shooting on Monday, June 24, 2025, during an incident involving an armed suspect at a local gas station. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) identified the deceased suspect as Patrick Brian Shoptaw, 39 years old.
The confrontation began at approximately 5:50 a.m. when police responded to a report of a stabbing at the Shell gas station located at 4260 Winchester Road. Upon arrival, officers discovered a man with a stab wound. Authorities later established that the victim had been attacked by the suspect, who was armed with a screwdriver.
As officers attempted to detain Shoptaw, he fled back into the gas station and refused to comply with commands to surrender. Once inside, he allegedly charged at the officers, attempting to stab them. In fear for their safety, one officer discharged his weapon, striking the suspect.
According to TBI spokesperson Kim Wheeler, Shoptaw confronted the officer while wielding the screwdriver, even making contact with the officer’s protective vest before the officer fired his weapon. The suspect was immediately transported to a hospital in critical condition, where he later died from his injuries.
The victim of the stabbing was hospitalized following the assault but has since been released and is reported to be in non-critical condition. The circumstances of the incident were recorded on surveillance footage, which captured Shoptaw outside the gas station prior to the attack.
This incident marks one of three officer-involved shootings to occur in Memphis this year, contributing to a total of 30 such incidents statewide in 2025.
The TBI is conducting an ongoing investigation into the shooting, with plans to present their findings to the District Attorney General for further review. Authorities are encouraging anyone with information regarding the incident to contact CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.
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Additional Resources
- Fox 13 Memphis: Shooting at Midtown Bar
- Fox 13 Memphis: I-240 Shooting Case
- Action News 5: Shooting at Lamar Ave Gas Station
- Local Memphis: Roads Closed Following Shooting on Lamar
- News Channel 5: TBI Investigates Officer-Involved Shooting
- Wikipedia: Police Shooting
- Google Search: Tennessee Shooting
- Google Scholar: Police Shooting Memphis
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Police
- Google News: Memphis Shooting
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