UPDATED 6/9/25 at 9:15 a.m. – The deceased individual has been identified as Austin Walters (DOB: 09/18/03).

PREVIOUSLY POSTED:

At the request of 2nd Judicial District Attorney General Barry Staubus, TBI special agents continue to investigate the circumstances of an officer-involved shooting in Sullivan County.

Preliminary information indicates the incident happened at approximately 10:19 on Sunday night on Highway 394 near Highway 11 West where a state trooper responded to a crash.  When the trooper encountered the driver involved in the crash, the trooper, believing the subject was inebriated, attempted to arrest him.  For reasons still under investigation, the subject fled, and the situation escalated. The subject produced a gun, and the trooper fired at the subject killing him. 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 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. 

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