Who Is Johnathan Bratcher? Memphis Police Shoots, Kills Black Man Reportedly Unarmed And Fleeing

UPDATE 9:30 p.m. EST: A fatal officer-involved shooting in Memphis Wednesday afternoon started as traffic stop, investigators said, according to a tweet from a WHBQ-TV reporter. A car with two men inside refused to stop, crashed and then the men ran. One of the two men evading the police reportedly shot at the officers. Two officers shot back, fatally shooting one of the men. The second suspect is still at large.

Original Story:

A man was shot and killed by police while reportedly fleeing the authorities Wednesday afternoon in Memphis, Tennessee, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported. Witnesses identified the slain man as Johnathan Bratcher, 32.

Reports quickly surfaced on social media claiming Bratcher was both unarmed and running from police when he was shot. Bratcher's body was lying in the street for multiple hours afterward, according to one tweet. Another Twitter user said two Memphis police officers shot at two "black men" but one got away while Bratcher was struck while "running."

The scene of the shooting left witnesses and bystanders angry and yelling at police, according to the Commercial Appeal.

"I have been made aware of an officer-involved shooting today," said Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland in a statement. "However, the TBI is the lead agency investigating. I am not at liberty to discuss the details of this case. This is a reminder of the dangers our officers face on a daily basis, even on something as routine as a traffic stop."

Bratcher had a rocky relationship with the law, according to court records cited by the Commercial Appeal. In 2002, he pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery, and in 2008, he was charged with 13 counts of aggravated assault, along with counts of vandalism and unlawful possession of a weapon. Bratcher did not have any open warrants, the Commercial Appeal reported.

The case has been turned over to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Police dispatchers received the shooting call at 2:54 p.m. local time, and at 4:29 p.m. dispatchers advised officers in the area to turn off any body or car cameras.

"There are two officers who have body cameras that are used as a field test. It is policy that the scene investigator can ask for cameras to be turned off once the investigation is underway,” Memphis city spokeswoman Ursula Madden said in a statement, the Commercial Appeal reported. “We cannot speak to other law enforcement agencies who may have been on scene. As you know, TBI is the lead agency on this case, and they will determine when or if any video will be released."