At the request of 6th Judicial District Attorney General Charme Allen, TBI special agents continue to investigate a Sunday night shooting involving troopers from the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Preliminary information indicates the incident began with a traffic stop at approximately 7:25 p.m. in Loudon County. While a trooper was issuing a citation, the subject drove off. Troopers pursued the subject to the Watt Road exit off Interstate 40 East, where he drove off the road after turning right off the exit. Shortly after 8:00, after troopers stopped behind him, the subject exited the vehicle and fired upon them, resulting in at least one trooper returning fire, striking and injuring the subject. No law enforcement officers were hurt in the incident.
TBI agents are working to independently determine the series of events leading to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews. Throughout the process, investigative findings will be shared with the District Attorney General for her further review and consideration. The TBI acts solely as fact-finders in its cases and does not determine whether the actions of an officer were justified in these types of matters. That decision rests with the District Attorney General requesting TBI’s involvement.
The TBI does not identify the officers involved in these incidents and instead refers questions of that nature to the respective department to answer as it sees fit.
