Hamilton County Deputy Wounded in Incident 

UPDATE: According to the TBI, the man shot by deputies has been identified as 26-year-old Damean Alexander Jones.

A man suspected of stealing a car and fleeing from law enforcement was shot and killed on Martin Luther King Boulevard on Thursday morning.

According to a Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office press release, at approximately 5:00 am, HCSO deputies attempted to stop a vehicle that was reported stolen in Catoosa County, Georgia. The suspect failed to stop and a pursuit was initiated.  

During the chase, the suspect began firing a weapon at deputies.  

Shortly thereafter, deputies lost visual of the vehicle. Later that morning, Sheriff Austin Garrett located the suspect vehicle in the back of the Motel 6 parking lot on Bonny Oaks Drive. After locating the vehicle, the suspect fled and eventually crashed in the intersection of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Lindsay Street. At that time, the suspect exited the vehicle and began to exchange gunfire at deputies. Deputies then returned fire and the suspect was killed. One deputy was hit during the shooting and sustained non-life threatening injuries.  

“While it is early in the investigative phase of this incident, this individual was intent on getting away from authorities and clearly didn’t care who he endangered in the process,” Sheriff Austin Garrett stated in the press release. “I am very grateful our deputy only sustained non-life threatening injuries and was not killed while trying to protect our community and take this individual into custody.

“I am also very thankful no other HCSO deputies, other law enforcement personnel, or citizens were injured during this incident. This morning’s events highlight the incredible dangers our personnel face each day while performing their duties. I am honored to serve alongside the brave men and women of the HCSO as they protect and serve our community.” 

Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp has directed the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to conduct the investigation into deputy-involved shooting.