MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A man charged with shooting three people and then running over and killing a Memphis police officer is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing.
Justine Welch faces charges of first degree murder, attempted murder and evading arrest in what authorities have called a crime spree on a busy weekend night in downtown Memphis on June 4. He is scheduled to appear before a judge Wednesday with his public defender.
The 21-year-old Welch is accused of shooting two people at a restaurant and another person outside the Memphis Pyramid. Police say he led officers on a chase in a stolen car before hitting Officer Verdell Smith, who was clearing pedestrians from the vehicle’s path near Beale Street.
Smith died at a hospital.
