Manhunt underway for Memphis cop killer

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A manhunt continued Sunday following the fatal shooting of a Memphis police officer who was killed the previous night during a traffic stop, Tennessee police officials said.

Memphis Police Department spokeswoman Karen Rudolph told The Associated Press that a person of "interest" is in custody but that no charges have been filed. She said the investigation is ongoing but did not provide further details.

Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong said during a news conference that police were alerted about 9:18 p.m. Saturday that an officer had been shot multiple times. Armstrong said the officer was transported in critical condition to a hospital, where he died.

In a statement Sunday morning, Memphis Police identified the slain officer as Sean Bolton, 33. Police also said that a civilian had used Bolton's radio to notify police about the shooting. No further details were released.

Bolton was shot near one of the main arteries in southeast Memphis, an area that includes homes, apartments and businesses. Police are looking for potential witnesses and are asking for members of the public who have information about the suspect to come forward. No suspects have been publicly identified.

Armstrong said police have not made an arrest and the suspect is on the run. He said police are using all available resources to find the shooter.

CBS affiliate WREG in Memphis reports Bolton was a military veteran.

Armstrong said officers are grieving, adding that "this is just a reminder of how dangerous" the job is.

At a late night news conference, Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong released the following statement: "It doesn't get any easier. This is a very difficult time, not only for me as dircector, but for all the officers you see standing behind me. And a difficult time for our city as well. So I ask that you give us the respect that we need... and the space that we need to grieve, and the time that we need to prepare to lay our brother to rest."

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."

"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."