UPDATE: HCSO says suspect killed in shootout with Chattanooga Police officer
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — UPDATE (Friday, 10:46 p.m.):
The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office confirms the man accused of shooting at a Chattanooga Police officer is dead after the officer returned fire.
HCSO identified him as 27-year-old Brandin Keith Davis. Chattanooga Police Chief David Roddy said earlier this evening that his officer had chased Davis, a Black man, after he ran from the scene of a nearby crash. Police have not yet identified the white officer who fired the fatal shot, but say he is okay and on administrative leave, as is department policy. Chief Roddy remarked on the shooting, the second this week involving his officers, saying,
"This is the second officer-involved shooting that we've had in a very short period of time, but I hope the community understands what their officers place themselves into everyday out here protecting and serving the citizens of Chattanooga. This is another example of a Chattanooga Police Officer that was placed at risk doing their job, and they responded heroically, they put themselves in danger. Unfortunately, we have a tragedy at the end of it, but it demonstrates what these men and women are willing to do every single day for the citizens of Chattanooga."
Chattanooga activist and city council candidate Marie Mott responded to Chief Roddy's statement on the shooting, saying on Twitter that he was justifying the two shootings just days apart. "Enough is enough!" she tweeted.
According to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office statement, Davis had active warrants out of Anderson County for attempted first degree murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, vandalism, and domestic assault.
Davis' death was first confirmed through a tweet from Mayor Andy Berke.
"We know that this is a painful moment for our community and our country," said Berke on Twitter, "Please stay calm and pray for the end of violence in our city."
The sheriff's office has begun its investigation into the deadly incident, and investigators will turn over their findings over to the District Attorney.
Chattanooga Police released body camera footage of the incident, which you can watch below along with their report on the incident.
UPDATE (Friday, 9:48 p.m.):
Chattanooga Police have released body camera footage of a chase that ended in a shootout between a suspect and one of their officers at a Shallowford Road gas station Friday night.
WARNING: The video below contains explicit language and content. Viewer discretion is advised.
Chattanooga Police also offered further information on the incident.
They said at about 5:15 p.m., officers responded to a car crash at Maria Street and North Moore Road.
According to spokesman Jeremy Eames, when officers arrived, a person involved with the crash fled on foot, and an officer chased after him.
The chase led to the nearby BP/Circle K gas station on the 4000 block of Shallowford Road, a couple of minutes away.
In the body camera footage, the officer can be heard yelling for the man to stop and show his hands. A split second later, shots ring out as the officer takes cover behind a parked vehicle.
"Shots fired, shots fired, shots fired!" the officer can be heard yelling, as he takes out his own gun.
Chattanooga Police say the officer returned fire, striking the suspect.
Chattanooga Police say the man sustained life-threatening injuries. Mayor Andy Berke, however, said in a tweet that the man was killed. We have reached out to law enforcement for clarification.
"We know that this is a painful moment for our community and our country," said Berke on Twitter, "Please stay calm and pray for the end of violence in our city."
Police have not yet released the identity of the suspect, but say he was confirmed to have attempted murder warrants from another jurisdiction.
The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office is performing an external investigation into the incident.
This is a developing story and will be updated as we learn more.
UPDATE (Friday, 9 p.m.):
The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office says a man will be charged with aggravated assault after nearly hitting a detective who was on the way to investigate this incident. Read more on that here.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Chattanooga Police Chief David Roddy says a suspect who shot at one of his department's officers was in turn shot by the officer.
Investigators are on the scene at the Circle K on the 4000 block of Shallowford Road Friday night.
Chief Roddy spoke with our crew there. He says it started when one of his officers was dispatched to the scene of an accident with unknown injuries.
Roddy says the officer arrived, a person connected with the accident took off running, and the officer chased after him.
According to the chief, at the end of the foot pursuit, in the lot of the Circle K, the person turned, presented a firearm, and fired at the officer. The officer returned fire, hitting the suspect.
Roddy did not release the name or age of the suspect, but said the suspect is a Black male, and that he is being treated for his injuries. The chief says investigators have recovered the firearm used, and the officer involved is okay.
"While I have been here, I personally watched some of the video evidence that was gathered on the scene here, and it definitively shows that the suspect turned and fired upon our police officer," said Chief Roddy.
"We do not have any idea what would lead him to take such desperate measures to try and evade arrest, but unfortunately it led to the tragedy that you see behind me," said the chief.
Police say the man appears to be the only suspect involved in this incident, and they are not aware of any threat to the public.
Roddy said he was unsure what happened that led to the initial crash, but that it is part of the external investigation the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office is now conducting.
Per department policy, Roddy says the officer involved has been placed on administrative leave.
This marks the second time in three days that Chattanooga Police have shot a suspect in the city. On Tuesday, police say a woman called to report that a man was threatening her near an apartment complex. When officers arrived, they say he was "brandishing a gun in a threatening manner," and they engaged with him. 35-year-old Clifton Gorman Spencer, Jr. was hit by officers' gunfire, and later passed away, according to the sheriff's office.
Chief Roddy remarked on the two incidents with a message to the community.
"This is the second officer-involved shooting that we've had in a very short period of time, but I hope the community understands what their officers place themselves into everyday out here protecting and serving the citizens of Chattanooga. This is another example of a Chattanooga Police Officer that was placed at risk doing their job, and they responded heroically, they put themselves in danger. Unfortunately, we have a tragedy at the end of it, but it demonstrates what these men and women are willing to do every single day for the citizens of Chattanooga," said the chief.
Chattanooga activist and city council candidate Marie Mott responded to Chief Roddy's statement on the shooting, saying on Twitter that he was justifying the two shootings just days apart. "Enough is enough!" she tweeted.
As of this report's writing, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office has not issued a statement on the incident.
This is a developing story and will be updated as we learn more.
