Police confirm identity of man shot by officers

(WMC-TV) - Police confirm the man shot and killed by police Tuesday is identified as 28-year-old Anjustine Hunter.

Family informed Action News 5 of the man's identity Wednesday, but police would not confirm it until Thursday afternoon.

According to police, Hunter was pumping gas into his car when two officers approached him. He then got into his vehicle and hit the gas pedal, striking both officers.

After being hit by the car, officers shot into Hunter's vehicle, killing him. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

One of the officers was taken to the hospital. He was treated and released. The second officer was treated on the scene for scrapes and bruises.

Witnesses have a different story to tell of what happened Tuesday night.

People on the scene report that the car was not moving until officers began shooting.

Keishia Brown saw the entire thing happen. She said she was in the gas station when she saw an officer jump on the parked car.

"He jumped over on top of the car like a movie and just started shooting at the man in front of everybody," she said.

Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong disagrees with the witness after having watched video from the scene.

"In his efforts to get away, he struck two officers. I've seen the video. One of the officers was actually on the hood of the vehicle."

He said the officers approached the suspect pumping gas because he had tags that did not match his car. Armstrong also added that the officers had tried to stop him days earlier, but he fled then too.

Hunter's family is upset over the shooting and wants to speak to Armstrong about it.

"I need to talk to Toney Armstrong ASAP. A.S.A.P. He needs to be calling me because that's not right," said Hunter's sister, Giovanni Williams, who owned the car. "My only brother. He takes care of me."

Williams admits the tags were expired and her brother was getting gas into her car before getting it inspected.

"He didn't have a weapon on him," said Williams. "They're constantly shooting folks and getting away with it, but they're not going to get away with this one."

Police say 3.02 grams of heroin was found in Hunter's car.

Both officers involved are relieved of duty pending the outcome of the investigation into the deadly shooting.

Armstrong says 11 officers have been shot in two years, two of them were killed.

"All of our cases are presented to the Attorney General's office for a final review," he said.

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