Crime
Man Arrested After Newborn Found Dead in Dumpster Behind Memphis Gas Station
Boothe has been arrested and charged with abuse of a corpse.
MEMPHIS, TN – A Memphis man has been arrested in connection with the tragic discovery of a newborn baby inside a dumpster behind a gas station, authorities confirmed.
According to the Memphis Police Department (MPD), 45-year-old James Boothe was transporting a juvenile girl under the age of 18 to the hospital when she unexpectedly gave birth.
Instead of seeking medical assistance for the infant, Boothe allegedly placed the newborn inside a dumpster behind a Shell gas station on East Shelby Drive.
Law enforcement officers responded to the scene after receiving reports of the abandoned infant, but tragically, the baby had already died before authorities arrived.
A nearby gas station owner, who first made the heartbreaking discovery, reported seeing the infant’s body inside the dumpster.
The business owner also provided police with surveillance footage showing a man discarding a trash bag into the dumpster.
While the footage suggests the infant may have been inside the bag, police have not yet determined the official cause of death.
The baby’s mother was transported to a hospital in non-critical condition, though additional details about her identity and medical status have not been released.
Boothe has been arrested and charged with abuse of a corpse.
At this time, no further charges have been announced as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the infant’s death.
The case remains under active investigation by the Memphis Police Department. Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact law enforcement.
Crime
Chico Police Fatally Shoot Suspect Michael Oxley Following Weekend Attack on Local Barber George Ramirez III
The Butte County District Attorney’s Office and the Butte County Officer-Involved Shooting Protocol Team are actively investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred early Sunday morning in Chico.
The incident took place at The Post, an off-campus student housing complex on Nord Avenue, where members of the Chico Police SWAT team engaged 43-year-old Michael Oxley, a suspect in a Friday night shooting.
According to District Attorney Mike Ramsey, the situation began Friday evening when Oxley allegedly shot 43-year-old George Ramirez III, a well-known downtown Chico barber, in the parking lot of the Chico Farmer’s Market on Flume Street.
Ramirez was sitting in his vehicle when an assailant approached from behind and fired multiple rounds through the closed driver’s side window, striking him in the head, neck, and shoulder.
He was transported to an out-of-area hospital, where he underwent extensive surgery and remains in critical condition.
Following an overnight investigation, Chico Police identified Oxley as the primary suspect. Authorities determined that he was staying at The Post as an Airbnb resident, not as a student.
A warrant for his arrest was obtained through the District Attorney’s Office and a local judge.
Officers attempted to take Oxley into custody around 6 p.m. on Saturday, but he barricaded himself inside his apartment, prompting a lockdown of the housing complex.
The situation escalated when Oxley fled to the parking structure, where SWAT officers contained him on a ramp between the fourth and fifth floors.
Authorities reported that Oxley was crouching with a pistol equipped with an extended magazine.
Despite two hours of negotiation urging him to surrender, Oxley stood up and opened fire at officers.
In response, six members of the Chico Police SWAT team returned fire, fatally wounding him. The shooting occurred at approximately 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 2.
The Butte County Officer-Involved Shooting Protocol Team launched an immediate investigation following the incident.
The six involved officers have been placed on administrative leave, per standard procedure in officer-involved shootings.
Authorities continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the case, including the suspect’s motive and the sequence of events leading up to the fatal encounter.
Additional details will be released as the investigation progresses.