Marta Mote, the woman arrested on Monday in connection with the weekend shooting of Memphis Police officer Norman Benjamin, was released from Jail East today after authorities determined the charges against her weren’t substantiated. All pending charges against Mote are dropped.
“At this point in this investigation my office has determined that the charges against Ms. Mote weren’t sufficiently substantiated,” said Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich. “It is always the goal of this office and [the Memphis Police Department] to pursue the truth and to prosecute cases based on factual evidence.”
On Saturday, Benjamin was transported to the Med after sustaining a gunshot would. He remains there in stable condition. Benjamin originally reported that he’d been shot by a Hispanic man, but it was later determined that he gave a false police report. Authorities then turned their suspicion to Mote, who was originally charged with attempted second-degree murder. Police have since said they believe Benjamin has some sort of relationship with Mote and/or her teenage niece. At press time, police are offering no other explanation on who shot Benjamin.
