Thursday, July 29, 2010

DEVELOPING: Police Search For Clues In Wright Homicide, 911 Call Under Investigation

((HT: MyFoxMemphis))

Memphis Police used dental records to identify Lorenzen Wright Thursday after his death was ruled a homicide by gunshot wound. 70 police officers combed the wooded area looking for clues in the right disappearance and subsequent death.

((Here is the official document))

Reporters were allowed back to the site early in the afternoon.

The Commercial Appeal and their bevy of reporters got in touch with a Wright family attorney who is less than pleased with the investigation to date:

A lawyer representing the Wright family in previous civil matters said the lack of communication between neighboring jurisdictions was inexcusable.

“It is appalling the Germantown Police Department did not follow up on that 911 call,” said attorney Gail Mathes. “That is a tragic situation with many, many more hours of all the anxiety the family went through.”

The attorney also pointed to the lost time investigating the homicide. Within law enforcement circles, there’s a shared belief that the most crucial time to solve a slaying is within the first 48 hours.


The Memphis Grizzlies released a statement today after the death of Lorenzen Wright:

"We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Lorenzen Wright. We lost a member of the Grizzlies family. Lorenzen delighted fans on the court with his passion and off the court with his generosity in a Memphis community that watched him grow throughout his playing career at Booker T. Washington High School, the University of Memphis and the NBA."

"In his five seasons with the Grizzlies, Lorenzen played an integral role in guiding this franchise to three consecutive playoff appearances and was a member of the inaugural Memphis Grizzlies team in 2001."

"On behalf of the entire Memphis Grizzlies organization, we would like to express our sincerest condolences to Lorenzen's family during this difficult time."


Meanwhile, the Memphis Police are actively investigating the shooting...
Lauren Lee was back at the murder scene...


2300 UPDATE: From the Commercial Appeal, Germantown ((TN)) are now undergoing an internal investigation as to why no connection was made between the 9-1-1 phone call from Wright's cell phone and linking it to the disappearance of the former NBA'er for nine days and why Police Chief Richard Hall wasn't notified of the call in the first place.

“We’ve got an administrative review on the call because it didn’t come to light until Tuesday,” Hall said.

Hall wouldn’t comment on what actions, if any, the dispatcher took to make sure police responded to the 911 call and searched for a potential gunshot victim.


MyFoxMemphis' Les Smith digs at the 9-1-1 call...


And WREG-TV's Scott Noll angers a local police chief in the process...
 

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