At the request of 11th Judicial District Attorney General Coty Wamp, TBI Special Agents continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding an officer-involved shooting that happened in the early morning hours Thursday in Hamilton County.
Preliminary information indicates deputies with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office initiated a vehicle pursuit in the area of Lee Highway in Chattanooga. At one point during the pursuit, deputies forcibly stopped the vehicle in the 6000 block of Shallowford Road. Initial reports from the scene indicate that the vehicle continued to travel in the direction of the deputies. For reasons still under investigation, multiple rounds were discharged by one deputy. The driver of the vehicle was struck, and transported to a local hospital to be treated for what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries. No deputies were injured during the incident. Troopers with the Tennessee Highway Patrol assisted, in working the crash.
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 types of incidents and instead refers questions of that nature to the respective department to answer as it sees fit.
Any available updates on this investigation will be posted online at TBINewsroom.com.
TBINewsroom.com 