Sergeant Rick Finley was declared dead after being shot by 39-year-old Daniel Holmes on Saturday. Sgt. Finley responded to a suspicious person call in the city of Selmer after a member of the public had reported that Holmes unsuccessfully sought to enter the door of a home in a community. Holmes reportedly resorted to firing gunshots into the door when rejected.
Sgt. Finley confronted Holmes in the driveway of a home across the street- with the suspect shooting and killing the officer. Another officer who responded to the scene moments later, Lt. Ron Pilkington, shot and killed Holmes.
Sgt. Finley was a full-time sheriff's deputy for the McNairy County Sheriff's Office, who was working in a part-time capacity for the Selmer Police Department.
BREAKING: Officials have identified Officer Rick Finley as the victim in Saturday’s fatal officer-involved shooting in McNairy County. Finley worked full-time as a Deputy with the McNairy County Sheriff's Office but was working part-time with @Selmer_Police at the time of his… pic.twitter.com/lW6gGZ42vW
— Jaxie Pidgeon (@JaxiePidgeon) December 15, 2024
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has assumed the role of lead investigative agency in the case, according to Fox 13 Memphis. The agency is investigating the circumstances that led to the police fatality.
The sergeant's body is slated to receive a full police escort from Selmer to the city of Memphis, according to the McNairy County Sheriff's Office. Members of the public are invited to pay their respects to the hearse en route to Shackleford Funeral Home as it travels on Mulberry Avenue.
Members of the community are describing Finley as a family man, veteran, and stalwart member of society, according to Tennessee WREG.
“He and his best friend knocked on my door when he was 16-years-old," Craig Hamm, a self-defense trainer, said of the deceased. "He wanted me to give him martial arts classes. He’s been my student – matter of fact, he’s my highest-ranked student as of today.
“I watched him grow up. We have always had a good relationship. We talked about everything. He’s family.”
Shelby County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Anthony Bonner also released a statement mourning Sgt. Finley.
“On behalf of all the men and women of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, I offer my prayers and deepest condolences to family and friends of Officer Rick Finley of the Selmer Police Department and the McNairy County Sheriff’s Office.”
