Updated on 6/12/24 at 8:52 a.m. ET to include information about the charges placed against the individual involved in the incident.
At the request of 5th Judicial District Attorney General Ryan Desmond, TBI agents are investigating the circumstances leading to an officer-involved shooting that occurred Tuesday afternoon involving deputies with the Blount County Sheriff’s Office.
Preliminary information indicates that just before 3:30 p.m., deputies with the Blount County Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic disturbance in the 1100 block of Jacob Springs Boulevard in Rockford. For reasons still under investigation, shortly after deputies arrived on scene, shots were fired by a male subject, resulting in the deputies returning fire. During the exchange of gunfire, two deputies were struck. They were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The male subject, identified as Ronald Millsaps (DOB: 7/31/64), barricaded himself inside the residence but was eventually taken into custody. He was not injured during the incident.
TBI agents obtained warrants charging Millsaps with one count of Aggravated Domestic Assault, two counts of Attempted Criminal Homicide, six counts of Aggravated Assault, four counts of Reckless Endangerment, and one count of Especially Aggravated Kidnapping. He is currently being held in the Blount County Jail on a $2.2 million bond.
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 his 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 