Memphis Man Accused of Shooting at Police During Standoff Released on Own Recognizance by Judge

According to Action News 5, Christopher Smith, a guy from Memphis, was freed on his own recognizance after reportedly shooting at police officers during a 12-hour standoff. Despite Smith being charged with serious crimes, including three counts of attempted first-degree murder, Shelby County Judge Bill Anderson allowed the release without bond. The suspect, a war veteran, was taken into custody following the confrontation on Lakeview Road, where Smith’s mother reported her son’s armed mental breakdown to the police.

According to an arrest complaint, Smith allegedly accosted officers on the evening of November 10 and asked “if they wanted to die” before shooting them and running away. Smith eventually barricaded himself in his car and wrecked a $60,000 robot belonging to the Memphis Police Department (MPD) during the incident, which was detailed in a story by FOX13 Memphis. One of the requirements for Smith’s release is that he go through a mental health assessment at a Veterans hospital.

Tennessee Senator Brent Taylor, who was appalled by Judge Anderson’s ruling, contacted Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy to have the ROR judgment overturned, calling it “yet another injustice.” Action News 5 said that Senator Taylor was outspoken in his criticism of Judge Anderson’s “blatant disregard for the law” that requires community safety to be the top priority when determining bond.

The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office reaffirmed the opposition by requesting an emergency order to reevaluate Smith’s release. “We resisted the defendant’s self-recognizance release. We requested that the $200,000 bond, I think, remain in force, and we will actually be contesting that ruling by submitting a risk in criminal court,” Mulroy said WREG. Smith will appear in court for a psychiatric assessment on December 3.

Judge Anderson’s latest release is not unique; previous decisions have included ROR for those charged with other major crimes, including the FedEx World Hub and Railgarten shootings.

Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!