Authorities say a welfare check at a rural home east of Murphy escalated into gunfire Thursday, leaving a Cherokee County woman shot in the chest and later trying to walk out of a Chattanooga hospital before being taken into custody.
Officials identified the woman as 41-year-old Trista Danielle Hughes. She was flown out of Cherokee County for treatment and was ultimately detained by Chattanooga police after what authorities described as an attempt to leave the hospital. The deputy involved was not injured, and investigators say the encounter was captured on his body camera.
Shooting During a Welfare Check
According to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were conducting a welfare check at a home east of Murphy when one deputy approached the driveway and came upon a Toyota pickup driven by Hughes. As the deputy gave commands, officials say Hughes produced a Glock handgun and pointed it at him. The sheriff’s office reports that the deputy then fired multiple times, striking her in the chest.
Deputies recovered a firearm from the truck, and investigators have reviewed the deputy’s body-camera footage as part of the case, according to The Charlotte Observer.
Hospital Transfer and Custody
After the shooting, Hughes was airlifted to Erlanger Baroness Hospital in Chattanooga for treatment. Officials say she continued to resist while medical staff worked on her and later tried to leave the hospital on her own.
The Baroness campus is Erlanger Health System’s downtown Chattanooga hospital and serves as a regional referral center for serious trauma and transfers, according to Erlanger Health System. Chattanooga police ultimately took Hughes into custody following the attempted departure, authorities said.
Investigation and Charges
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office says Hughes has been charged with assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm. The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation is leading the probe into the shooting.
Officials say no one at the home was hurt, including a 9-year-old child who was present during the incident. Investigators also reviewed the deputy’s body-camera recording as part of their inquiry. Prosecutors will consider any additional charges once the SBI finishes its review, according to The Charlotte Observer.
