MEMPHIS, Tenn. - FOX13 is finding out more about what led to the deadly shooting of a law enforcement officer. That officer has been identified as Sgt. Rick Finley of the McNairy County Sheriff's Office (MCSO).
Finley worked full time for the sheriff's office. He was also employed part-time with the Selmer Police Department (SPD).
According to investigators, Sgt. Finley was on duty as a Selmer Police officer answering a suspicious person call Saturday afternoon when he was shot and killed in Selmer.
On Sunday, law enforcement and the community paid tribute to the fallen officer who was taken to Memphis following that fatal shooting. A motorcade took him back to McNairy County over the weekend.
RELATED: Police officer, suspect identified after deadly shooting in McNairy County
"Our prayers need to be with his family and with this community right now. It's just tough," said Brian Dickey, who stood on the police escort route with dozens of others, showing support for the law enforcement community.
Fellow officers and loved ones lined up giving a proper sendoff. One by one, officers from multiple law enforcement agencies paid their respects.
"He's a family man, I know that," said McNairy County native Dillon Tulo, adding that he's employed as a police officer in California. "He did it because he served. No one gets into this job because they want to be rich. They just want to give back and do the right thing."
Moments before Sunday's sendoff, the law enforcement community gathered in a moment of silence and prayer before heading down Highway 64 from Memphis to take Ofc. Finley back to McNairy County, Tenn., where he was fatally shot.
FOX13 followed the motorcade. Dozens of people aligned the roads on the route paying tribute.
"I'm just very thankful for police officers," Kristin McNatt said. "I think everybody needs to just realize that every day that they go to work, they are potentially sacrificing their lives for us."
According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), officers with the Selmer Police Department responded to a report of a suspicious person outside a home in the 100 block of New Bethel Road. The agency reported officers received the call after 3 p.m.
In a separate report, Selmer Police said the suspect was trying to force his way into a home and fired several shots into the door. When Officer Finley arrived to the scene, the suspect, later identified as Daniel Jeremiah Holmes, 39, attacked the officer and shot him several times, killing him.
"They have a tough job, and this was a sad situation for our community and these men and women work hard every day," Dickey said.
TBI reported a second officer got to the scene and was able to take the suspect down, shooting and killing Holmes.
On Sunday, McNairy County Sheriff Guy Buck told FOX13 Finley had been with his department for 13 years.
The sheriff said MCSO was tentatively considering Thursday to hold memorial services for Officer Finley. The service will get underway at First Baptist Church in Selmer.
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