Media

Deputies Investigate Fatal Shootout in Cordova Involving Memphis Police Officers and a United States Deputy Marshal

Release Date: May 14, 2006

Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies say Mary Fisher, 46, a Deputy Marshal with the United States Marshal’s Office, was killed early this morning after she opened fire on two Memphis Police Officers. One of the two Memphis Police Officers was also shot.

The events surrounding the shooting began last night. Just before 10 o’clock, Sheriffs Deputies were called to Fisher’s home in the 1100 block of Palmina Cove in East Shelby County when a woman at the home dialed 9-1-1 and hung up.

MPD Officer Patrick Taylor

When Deputies arrived, they discovered Fisher had left the house. However, a work associate of hers from the U.S. Marshal’s Office was at the house told Deputies Fisher was suffering from delusions and had driven away in her vehicle, a white BMW.

A description of her vehicle was broadcast to law enforcement agencies and a few hours later, just after 6 o’clock this morning, Fisher’s car was seen in the Cordova area.

Memphis Police Officers were at the intersection of Germantown Road at Macon investigating a traffic crash when they said the white BMW came close to scene of the crash, driving recklessly.

The officers then called for assistance and two nearby Memphis Police Patrol officers responded. After Memphis Officers turned on their blue lights and sirens, Fisher refused to stop and the pursuit ended a short time later at the driveway of her home on Palmina Cove.

The two Memphis Officers told Deputies they pulled behind her car and exited their cruisers.

The Officers ordered Fisher to get out of her car. They say she opened her door, peered back at them, and then got out of her car with a pistol and started shooting at them.

Officer Patrick Taylor, 34, a seven year veteran of the Memphis Police Department, was shot in the leg. He was taken to The Med where he remains in stable condition.

The woman was dead at the scene.

Officer Taylor is assigned to the Midnight Shift at the Appling Farms Station. The other Memphis Police Officer, who has not been identified, was not hurt in the shootout.

Both Officer Taylor and the other Officer have been routinely relieved of duty while the investigation continues.

Mary Fisher was a United States Deputy Marshal assigned to an Emergency Management Task Force in the Memphis area.

According to the United States Marshal’s Office, she had been in Memphis for several years and began her career as a Deputy Marshal in the early 1990s.

Sheriff’s detectives continue their investigation as to what triggered the fatal shootout.

The Public Information Officers for both the Memphis Police Department and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office are involved in this case.

For additional information, contact Memphis Police Sergeant Vince Higgins at (901) 545-5771, or Steve Shular of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, at (901) 545-5532.

 

^ Return to Top