Media

Aggravated Burglary Fugitive Shot by Deputies

Release Date: November 22, 2006

Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Deputies shot and killed a man last night wanted on Aggravated Burglary.  Deputies say he was shot when he pointed a gun at the officers when they attempted to arrest him.

Investigators say Barry Austin Schewe (pronounced SHOE), 25, who lived at various motels in Memphis, was shot just before eight o’clock at the Memphis Inn on American Way in South-East Shelby County.

Deputies with the Sheriff’s Street Crimes Unit tracked Schewe to the motel yesterday.  Schewe was wanted on an Aggravated Burglary charge regarding a break-in that happened at a home in the 200 block of Golden Arrow on October 13, 2005. 

Schewe was also being sought by Deputies in connection with a burglary on November 3, 2006, in the 5700 block of Crievewood Drive in North-East Shelby County. 

Memphis Police were also looking for Schewe to question him about another burglary in the 100 block of Ericson in the Cordova area on October 23, 2006. 

Deputies had Schewe’s room at the Memphis Inn under surveillance from the parking lot.

Before officers could enter the room and arrest him, Schewe walked out.

Four deputies approached Schewe identifying themselves as Sheriff’s Deputies.  The officers, who were in plain clothes, also wore jackets that said “Sheriff.”

As officers attempted to take him into custody, deputies say he pulled a pistol from a holster on his side and aimed the gun at the deputies.

That’s when deputies shot Schewe.  Specifics about the number of shots fired and which officers shot Schewe are still under investigation.

Deputies say Schewe did not fire his weapon.

After searching Schewe’s motel room, deputies found several weapons including a loaded machine gun.

The Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau along with the Bureau of Professional Standards and Integrity, an independent team of investigators who review officer-related incidents, are conducting the shooting investigation.

Their findings will then be handed over to the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office for a thorough review.

Deputies say Schewe had a lengthy criminal past which included convictions for home burglary, robbery and drug possession.

All four officers involved in the shooting have been routinely relieved of duty while the investigation continues.

 

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