Family remembers loved one killed officer-involved shooting

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In an exclusive interview with WREG, the family of the man who died after an officer-involved shooting is speaking out Tuesday night.

On Tuesday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation identified 26-year-old Tremayne French as the suspect killed.

The shooting occurred Monday afternoon after Memphis Police said they were trying to do a traffic stop on a carjacked Dodge Charger, which led to a car and foot chase.

Tremayne Frech’s family members told WREG that he left his ID and other valuables before getting into the car with associates.

They say that action signaled to them that he didn’t know he wouldn’t be coming back home.

“He got a phone call and we didn’t know who the call was from,” a relative said. “We don’t got the phone or nothing, so we don’t know who the call was from. He just came and got picked up. He didn’t know the car was stolen.”

Family members say that’s the last they saw French.

Officers say French and Tadarius Nichols carjacked a Frayser woman at gunpoint early Monday morning.

According to the police report, Nichols admitted to being the driver but denied taking part in the carjacking.

Investigators say it was French who shot at officers.

Officers fired back, striking French.

“What happened, happened,” a relative said. “Y’all just can’t slander his name and say he did this, he did that. That mane – let me tell you something, if you been gone for 10 years, carjacking is the last thing on your mind.”

French’s family said he just got out of prison earlier this year.

Court records show French pled guilty to a robbery back in 2018 but before he was able to complete his plea, records show he was charged in a separate carjacking a year later.

French was sentenced to 10 years in prison but was let out early for good behavior.

His relatives told WREG they don’t want his past mistakes to lead people to make assumptions about his character.

“He was young, he didn’t have his mind all the way on straight,” a relative said. “He wasn’t thinking right probably, he was just out in the streets.”

“Him and my mama was filling out so many job applications but nobody was really getting back to him,” Darreka French said.

Now after Tremayne’s untimely passing, Darreka is left with memories of her brother.

She said that he was a good man with a love for kids, taking care of his family and even had a playful nature.

“(He’d) play like he was Michael Myers or Jason and chase all the cousins and all of us around the house,” Darreka French said. “That used to be the best times with him.”

Nichols remains at 201 Poplar on a $20,000 bond.

The family of French said he did suffer from mental health issues and encouraged any convicted person to seek counseling after serving time.

“Bottom line, you got the wrong call from the wrong people,” a relative said. “You went to help somebody knowing your heart (is) big and that’s the result.”

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