Authorities say suspect in Parkway Village traffic-stop shooting of Memphis officer may have left Tennessee

Statewide search continues after officer wounded during a traffic stop

Authorities are continuing a multi-agency search for Danell Jarvis Maxwell, 40, in connection with the Feb. 26 shooting of a Memphis Police Department officer during a traffic stop in the Parkway Village area. Investigators have said they believe Maxwell has fled Tennessee as the manhunt extends beyond local jurisdictions.

The shooting triggered a Tennessee Blue Alert, a statewide notification used when a law enforcement officer is seriously injured or killed and the suspect remains at large. Maxwell is also listed on the Tennessee Most Wanted roster.

What authorities have confirmed so far

• The officer was shot on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, during a traffic stop in Memphis.
• Maxwell is wanted on a warrant alleging attempted first-degree murder in the shooting of a Memphis police officer.
• Authorities have described Maxwell as armed and dangerous.
• A reward has been offered for information leading to his capture, and the amount has increased during the search.

Investigators have not publicly released comprehensive details about what led to the stop, the events immediately preceding the gunfire, or a full account of the suspect’s movements after the shooting. Law enforcement agencies have urged the public not to approach Maxwell and to provide tips through official channels.

Officer’s condition and investigative timeline

Officials have stated the wounded officer is Oscar Torres-Molina. Following initial treatment, reports from investigators indicated Torres-Molina was released from the hospital within days of the shooting and is continuing recovery outside the hospital.

As the case has developed, authorities have periodically released updates focused on the search effort rather than evidentiary details. Those updates have emphasized the suspect’s status as a fugitive and the need for the public’s assistance in locating him.

Task force role and broader enforcement activity

The search has involved coordinated work among multiple agencies operating under the Memphis Safe Task Force, a multi-agency initiative launched in September 2025 to address violent crime through warrant service, targeted enforcement, and firearms recovery. In public updates issued around the time of the manhunt, officials said the task force had carried out dozens of arrests and recovered firearms in connection with separate operations.

Anyone with information is urged to contact law enforcement and avoid any direct contact with the suspect.

The investigation remains active. Authorities have said they will continue to share information as it can be released without compromising the search or related investigative steps.