Tab “Turk” Virgil of the The Hot Boys has been arrested and charged with attempted murder in connection with a police shootout during a drug raid in Memphis, Tenn. last Monday and is being held on bail in Shelby County Jail in Memphis, according to Steve Shular, public information officer for the Memphis Police Department.
12 SWAT and narcotics officers had a warrant to search the apartment for heroin where Turk and two other men were hanging out.
After knocking on the door and announcing their presence, the police entered the residence and began their search.
Virgil allegedly began shooting at them with a 9mm handgun.
During the shootout, Deputy Chris Harris, 29, was shot in the jaw, hip and leg, and Deputy Jason Pagenkopf, 31, was shot in the neck.
Harris was in the hospital in critical condition for a few days, but both deputies are now at home anticipating a full recovery, according to Shular.
“Deputy Harris will require reconstructive surgery as a result of the gunshot wound to his face,” Shular said.
A later press release from the Memphis Police Department stated that Pagenkopf’s wound came from a fellow police officer under friendly fire.
Police were looking for hard drugs in the apartment, but only came out with a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia including spoons and syringes.
Virgil is being held on $750,000 bail, reduced by a judge early this week from $1 million.
The two other men were questioned and released as evidence was found that the bullets that hit Harris came from Virgil’s gun, according to Shular.
The U.S. attorney’s office is also reviewing last Monday’s incident for additional firearm charges, according to Memphis police.
Virgil is best known for his role in the Hot Boys rap group on Cash Money Records.
His probation was violated in New Orleans by his recent encounter with police.
Before his solo debut “Young & Thuggin'” in 2001, Virgil had been arrested twice for possession of heroin among a plethora of other charges, according to Garry Flot, public information officer for the New Orleans Police Department.
Virgil was issued a warrant on Feb. 27, 2003 after failing to fulfill obligations to the court in New Orleans.
“Memphis will do what they have to do and then send him to New Orleans to let us do what we’re doing in regards to old charges and probation violations,” Flot said.
Virgil has not yet posted bail or made any statements on behalf of himself, but his manager, Leroy Hollins II, has made an official statement.
“As his manager, I know he does not have the violent tendencies to commit such an act,” Hollins said. “This is another case of a good person being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”