Man says property raided by SWAT wasn’t base for drug trafficking
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — As more information comes out about Friday’s narcotic warrant that ended with a man being killed and three people behind bars, WREG spoke with someone who said some of the information released by police was incorrect.
On Friday, Shelby County deputies fatally shot a suspect accused of driving towards deputies, which sparked an investigation.
The shooting happened on Barron Avenue near Inman Road. According to Sheriff Floyd Bonner, deputies with the sheriff’s office SWAT team were serving a “high-risk” narcotics warrant in the area at 3:30 p.m.
Court documents say the property where the incident happened is being used as a base for a drug trafficking operation.
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However, the man leasing the property told WREG that that wasn’t true.
“I’m saying they’re a lie,” he said.
The man didn’t want to be identified but told WREG that he was leasing 3119 Barron Avenue.
Court documents say detectives determined that this location is utilized as a base of operation for numerous people involved in a drug trafficking organization.
Another statement the man claimed wasn’t true.
“My grandchildren be up here. You think I’m going to let somebody do something to hurt my grandchildren? No,” he said.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, detectives have seen multiple unknown men conduct narcotic hand-to-hand transactions with vehicles pulling into the lot.
The man leasing the property says the building is next to a convenience store and people often park on his lot when he’s not there.
“As far as any drugs or any of that type of mess, I don’t know nothing about none of it,” he said. “I don’t deal with drugs. I don’t smoke drugs.”
He says he uses the building to store his tools. He even allowed WREG to look inside.
Exterior of the Barron Avenue property. Broken door at the Barron Avenue property. Inside the Barron Avenue property. Backyard of the Barron Avenue property.
However, deputies say they found several high-capacity guns and drugs around the party.
When asked about that, the man said he didn’t know anything about that.
He told WREG that the day of the search, an unknown vehicle parked on his lot.
“I told them I said, ‘Stay off my lot. I done told ya’ll stay off my lot. Period.” he said. “So, I went in there, got what I needed, my shovels and stuff, and went back to my job.”
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Hours later, he said he received word that law enforcement was conducting a search warrant.
Court records say that as SWAT closed in, four people ran to the back of the building and through an open section of a fence.
Quentavious Johnson, Willie Hampton and Christian Mull were arrested near the front of the building.
The incident also resulted in the death of 30-year-old James Hampton.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says Hampton was shot and killed by deputies after he allegedly drove a speeding vehicle toward them.
The man we spoke to says he does not know the men arrested and has no knowledge of a drug trafficking operation.
He says he only wants to use his property to help the community.
“That’s all I do is barbeque and go in my building and cook and bring stuff out here and give it away free out of my pocket,” he said. “I work and pour concrete and try to do right by people.”
The man also tells WREG he has not been questioned by authorities or charged in the incident.
The officer-involved shooting is still being investigated by the TBI.
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