Memphis Police Officer Phillip PennyMEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -
Police have identified the officer who fatally shot a Memphis-area man while serving an animal cruelty warrant.
A statement from the Memphis Police Department says officers were assisting the Memphis Animal Shelter in executing the search warrant Jan. 11 in the suburb of Cordova. The statement says officers entered a home and found the suspect armed.
MORE: Hoarder killed protecting animals, points gun at police
Police say the man pointed a loaded gun at officers, and 36-year-old Officer Phillip Penny fatally shot him.
Police have not identified the man who was shot. Penny was identified Tuesday. Penny has been on administrative leave since the incident.
Police say the animal shelter requested assistance in serving the warrant due to what they described as threatening behavior by the suspect in previous encounters.
Several animals were recovered in the home, including dogs, cats, chickens, opossums and a raccoon.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
