Tremaine Wilbourn, accused of shooting dead Memphis police officer in custody

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Tremaine Wilbourn, 29, has turned himself in to federal authorities after a two-day manhunt
He faces a first-degree murder charge in the death of Officer Sean Bolton, 33, on Saturday night
During a traffic stop, Wilbourn confronted Bolton and they got into a physical struggle according to Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong
Wilborn is then said to have taken out a gun and fired it, striking Bolton multiple times
The suspect was on supervised release after being convicted of a bank robbery in February and sentenced to 121 months
Wilbourn told Armstrong after turning himself in: 'One, I’m not a cold-blooded killer. And two, I am not a coward'

Published: 17:36 EST, 3 August 2015 | Updated: 22:52 EST, 3 August 2015

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The ex-con accused of killing a Memphis police officer has turned himself into federal authorities, ending an intensive two-day manhunt.

Tremaine Wilbourn turned himself over on Monday night with his family by his side. A warrant had been issued Sunday for his arrest on a charge of first-degree murder.

Wilbourn told Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong after turning himself in: 'One, I’m not a cold-blooded killer. And two, I am not a coward.'

Armstrong had said of Wilbourn on Sunday: 'I think it's safe to say that when you look at this individual, you're looking at a coward. He's a coward.'

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Being taken into custody: Tremaine Wilbourn is pictured on Monday after turning himself into authorities

Wilbourn (left, in an undated mug shot) is accused of shooting dead Officer Sean Bolton (right) on Saturday

In shock: Police officers gather at Regional Medical Center in Memphis where Bolton was taken

Wilbourn (left in a photo handed out by police) faces a first-degree murder charge in the death of Bolton (right in high school)

Armstrong thanked the public for their help during the two-day manhunt, saying; 'This has been an exhausting search.

'We’ve always been one step behind him, but he felt the walls closing in and thought it was in his best interest to turn himself in. '

Wilbourn, a convicted bank robber, is accused of shooting Officer Sean Bolton, 33, Saturday night when the policeman interrupted a drug deal in a Mercedes-Benz.

Armstrong said Wilbourn was a passenger in the car, which was parked illegally in a southeast Memphis neighborhood on Saturday night.

Armstrong said Bolton saw the car and shined his squad car's spotlight on it. Bolton then got out of his car and walked toward the Mercedes.

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

Wilbourn then took out a gun and fired it, striking Bolton multiple times, Armstrong said. Wilbourn and the driver then ran away, Armstrong said.

The driver later turned himself in to police and was initially described as a person of interest in the case. He was eventually released without being charged.

Suspected killer of Memphis officer surrenders after manhunt

Remembering: A makeshift memorial rests on the sidewalk Monday where Bolton was shot dead

Memphis police Director Tonmey Armstrong (above) said of Wilbourn on Sunday; 'I think it's safe to say that when you look at this individual, you're looking at a coward. He's a coward.'

Armstrong said the drug transaction in question amounted to 'less than two grams of marijuana.'

He went on to say; 'You gun down, you murder a police officer for less than two grams of marijuana. You've literally destroyed a family.

'Look at the impact that that's had on this department, this community, this city, for less than two grams of marijuana.'

He closed by saying on Sunday; 'Last night, we lost not only an officer, but a great man, a dedicated servant to our community and a family member.'

Armstrong said Wilbourn was on supervised release after being convicted of a bank robbery in June 2005 and sentenced to 121 months in a federal prison.

He was let out on probation on July 1, 2014.

He then violated his probation by testing positive for marijuana on December 22.

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.'

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.

Police Director Armstrong, left, listens as Mayor A C Wharton, right, holds a news conference on Saturday

Memphis police call suspect in fatal cop shooting a 'coward'

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.

A vigil has been planned in Bolton's honor on Tuesday afternoon outside Memphis City Hall.

'At the end of the day it's not about who got him, but that its over, for now,' the Shelby County Sheriff's Office said in a message on Facebook.

'Now we hope Officer Bolton can truly rest, that his family can begin to grieve, and that as a community we can all begin to heal.

'To our brothers and sisters in Blue, we stand with you and are always here to help!'