A man, reported to be wielding an axe, was transported to the hospital following an officer-involved shooting in North Knoxville, according to a release from the Knoxville Police Department. The incident took place this afternoon in the 2600 block of Fairview Street around 1:53 p.m., involving a response to a call about a man armed with an axe. The situation escalated, resulting in at least one officer discharging their firearm and hitting the man multiple times. WATE reported the shooting is currently under investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at the request of Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen.
As the man's identity has not been released, his condition also remains unshared by the KPD. WVLT reported him to be initially acting "belligerent and violent" before the shooting. The events leading up to this confrontation began as a supposed domestic incident, which was confirmed during a press conference held by KPD at approximately 2:30 p.m. on the same day.
Witnesses in the vicinity alleged that they saw a man yelling and striking a vehicle with what appeared to be a hatchet before the police arrived and ultimately fired at him. The man was alert and conscious after the incident when he was transported to the hospital, as detailed by WBIR. In the coming weeks, Knoxville Police Department has stated that they will release body camera video of the incident.
