At the request of 5th Judicial District Attorney General Ryan Desmond, TBI agents are investigating the circumstances leading to an officer-involved shooting that occurred Tuesday evening in Blount County.

Just after 8:30 p.m., deputies with the Blount County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a female threatening to harm herself and others in the 1700 block of Creason Drive in Maryville. Preliminary information indicates that, upon arrival, deputies encountered a woman armed with a knife. The woman refused to comply with verbal commands to drop the weapon and advanced toward deputies. Three deputies fired their weapons, striking the woman. She was transported to an area hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

TBI agents are working to independently determine the series of events leading to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews. Throughout the process, investigative findings will be shared with the District Attorney General for his further review and consideration. The TBI acts solely as fact-finders in its cases and does not determine whether the actions of an officer were justified in these types of matters. That decision rests with the District Attorney General requesting TBI’s involvement. 

The TBI does not identify the officers involved in these types of incidents and instead refers questions of that nature to the respective department to answer as it sees fit.