A state trooper shot and killed a man following a traffic stop in Sullivan County, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
“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,†the TBI said in statement.
The TBI provided the following information Monday morning:
Preliminary information indicates the shooting happened at around 10:19 p.m. Sunday on Highway 394 near Highway 11 West where a state trooper went to a crash.
The trooper encountered the driver involved in the crash and, believing the person 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,†according to the TBI statement.
No law enforcement officers were hurt.
Sunday’s police shooting is the 26th investigated by TBI this year and the third in Sullivan County. The other two:
- On April 29, the
- Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, the Sullivan County Special Weapons and Tactics team was executing a search warrant at a mobile home in the 300 block of Barnett Drive in Kingsport. An individual fired shots from inside. One deputy returned fire. No one was injured.
- The subject inside the mobile home surrendered and was taken into custody.
- At about 8:30 p.m. May 5, Kingsport police shot and killed a 28-year-old Cody Alexander Burke at the Crockett Ridge Golf Course, located along L Jack Private Drive. Preliminary information indicates officers went to the golf course on a report of a man armed with a handgun threatening to harm himself.
- Upon arrival, officers contacted the man and attempted to negotiate with him, with no success. At some point during the encounter, the situation escalated, resulting in both an officer and the male subject firing shots.
TBI agents are working to independently determine the series of events leading to Sunday night’s 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.
