'You coward, you destroyed a family for less than two grams of marijuana': Police chief vents fury at suspect at center of manhunt for shooting dead Memphis cop during traffic stop

• Tremaine Wilbourn, 29, faces a first-degree murder charge in the death of Officer Sean Bolton, 33, on Saturday night, police said
• During a traffic stop, Wilbourn confronted Bolton and they got into a physical struggle, Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong said
• Suspect then took out a gun and fired it, striking Bolton multiple times and Bolton died at hospital, Armstrong said
• U.S. Marshal's office has offered to help in the search of Wilbourn, whom Armstrong says is armed and dangerous

By Associated Press

Published: 21:24 EST, 2 August 2015 | Updated: 00:45 EST, 3 August 2015

A suspect has been identified in the fatal shooting of a Memphis police officer and an intense search for the man is underway. 

Tremaine Wilbourn, 29, faces a first-degree murder charge in the death of Officer Sean Bolton, 33, on Saturday night, Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong said at a news conference.

Armstrong said Wilbourn was a passenger in a 2002 Mercedes Benz that was parked illegally in a southeast Memphis neighborhood on Saturday night.

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Tremaine Wilbourn (left), 29, faces a first-degree murder charge in the death of Officer Sean Bolton (right), 33, on Saturday night, Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong said

Memphis police officers gather at Regional Medical Center after officer Sean Bolton was fatally shot during a traffic stop in Memphis

Bolton is the third Memphis officer to be fatally shot in slightly more than four years

Armstrong said Bolton saw the car and shined his squad car's spotlight on the vehicle.

Bolton then got out of his car and walked toward the Mercedes, Armstrong said. 

Wilbourn got out of the Mercedes, confronted Bolton, and they got into a physical struggle, according to Armstrong.

The suspect then took out a gun and fired it, striking Bolton multiple times, Armstrong said. 

He was taken to Regional One Hospital in critical condition before he later died.

Wilbourn and the driver then ran away, Armstrong said. The driver later turned himself in to police, and police described him as a person of interest in the case before he was released without being charged.

A police officer walks by an armored truck during a search of an apartment complex on Sunday in Memphis. Police were looking for a suspect in the fatal shooting of Bolton

A cop walks down a staircase at an apartment that was searched by authorities on Sunday

'You gunned down, you murdered a police officer, for less than two grams of marijuana. You literally destroyed a family,' Armstrong said

Armstrong said Bolton interrupted a drug deal in progress. Officers found about 1.7 grams of marijuana inside the car, which likely would have just resulted in a misdemeanor citation and a fine for Wilbourn, according to Armstrong.

'He's a coward,' Armstrong said of Wilbourn. 'You gunned down, you murdered a police officer, for less than two grams of marijuana. You literally destroyed a family.'

Armstrong says the U.S. Marshal's office has offered to help in the search of Wilbourn, whom he says is armed and dangerous. 

He said Wilbourn is on supervised release after serving a federal sentence for robbery of a banking institution.

Bolton was a former U.S. Marine and served a tour of duty in Iraq, police said. He joined the department in 2010

Memphis police officer shot and killed during traffic stop

Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong, left, listens as Mayor A C Wharton, right, holds a news conference on Saturday at Regional Medical Center after Bolton was shot and killed. Armostrong said Wilbourn is a coward

Earlier Sunday, police officers wearing protective vests descended on an apartment complex in southeast Memphis, about three miles from the scene of the shooting. 

An armored truck and a mobile command center were among the police vehicles there.

Officers could be seen going in and out of a sliding door and onto a balcony on the second floor of the two-story building.

Bolton is the third Memphis officer to be fatally shot in slightly more than four years. 

Officer Tim Warren was killed while responding to a shooting at a downtown Memphis hotel in July 2011. 

In December 2012, Officer Martoiya Lang was killed while serving a warrant.

Memphis Mayor A.C. Wharton Jr. said Bolton's death 'speaks volumes about the inherent danger of police work' and asked others to 'pray for the family and pray for our city.' 

An officer looks out from an apartment balcony on Sunday after a standoff near the area where Police Officer Sean Bolton was fatally shot

Police canvas an area near where Officer Bolton was fatally shot on Sunday. The U.S. Marshal's office has offered to help in the search of Wilbourn, whom Armstrong says is armed and dangerous

During past police shootings, both Wharton and Armstrong have said too many violent criminals are out on the street and have easy access to guns.

'The men and women in blue have certain rules of engagement that they have to follow, but at any given minute in a 24-hour day they're dealing with folks who have no rules of engagement,' Wharton said.

Bolton was a former U.S. Marine and served a tour of duty in Iraq, police said. He joined the department in 2010.

Jason Mendoza, a minister at Woodland Presbyterian Church, said Bolton served as the best man at the wedding of his brother, Brian Bolton, this summer. 

Church member Pam Haley said Bolton's father died about a month ago. Brian is a member of the church.

During the church's morning service, Mendoza asked worshippers to pray for the Bolton family.

'Lord, lift up Brian and his family,' said Mendoza.

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