State weapons charge dropped in officer's shooting death

Lorenzo Clark
Lorenzo Clark
photo Lorenzo Clark

MEMPHIS - A state weapons charge has been dismissed in connection with the fatal shooting of an off-duty Memphis police officer last month.

Spokesman Larry Buser of Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich's office said Tuesday the charge was dropped because 36-year-old Lorenzo Clark is charged in a federal indictment.

Clark, a convicted felon, is charged with possession of a firearm.

Police say Lorenzo Clark and 31-year-old Officer Terence Olridge, who were neighbors, got into an argument as Olridge was on his way to work on Oct. 11 and it escalated into an exchange of gunfire. Olridge died.

Lorenzo Clark's attorney, William Massey, has said it appears Clark was trying to defend himself.

Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong said last month that there wasn't enough evidence to support a state murder charge.

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