An early morning traffic stop near Clinton Highway and the northbound I‑275 ramp ended in gunfire Tuesday when Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputies shot a suspect who was later rushed to a hospital, authorities said.
The stop happened just before 2:30 a.m. The person deputies shot was found unresponsive at the scene, then taken by ambulance to a hospital. Officials have not released the individual’s condition and are keeping other details close while investigators sort out what happened.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has been called in to handle an independent review of the shooting, a standard step in cases where officers fire their weapons.
Traffic stop turns into late night confrontation
According to WVLT, deputies pulled over a vehicle just before 2:30 a.m. near Clinton Highway and the I‑275 North ramp. The outlet reports that the person got out of the car and ran, and deputies say he was armed with a knife.
Deputies fired and hit the suspect, who was unresponsive when officers reached him, WVLT reports. An ambulance took the person to a hospital, and officials have not disclosed the person’s current condition.
State investigators called in on use of force
Per the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the agency serves as an independent fact‑finder in officer‑involved shootings. Its agents document the scene, collect physical evidence, and interview witnesses, then compile their findings in a case file.
The TBI forwards that file to the local district attorney, who decides whether any criminal charges are warranted. The bureau notes that it does not rule on whether an officer’s actions were justified and typically does not release the names of officers involved. Many investigative records only become public after both the TBI investigation and the prosecutor’s review are finished.
What happens next
Cases like this can take weeks as investigators piece together exactly how a tense encounter unfolded. That often means reviewing body‑camera footage, 911 recordings and forensic reports before prosecutors make any decisions on charges.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office has previously posted brief notices on other officer‑involved shootings and routinely brings in the TBI for outside review. In this case, officials have not released the names of the deputies or the person who was shot, and no further details have been made public. Expect more information once investigators wrap up their work and the district attorney weighs the findings.
