Knoxville Police Respond to Endangered Child Alert, Leading to Fatal Shooting

Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting in Knoxville

On January 28, 2026, Knoxville Police Department (KPD) Special Crimes detectives acted on credible information regarding a 15-year-old girl, the subject of an Endangered Child Alert issued the previous day. The girl was believed to be inside an apartment with a 46-year-old man, unrelated to her, who faced charges including concealing a runaway child and theft of a firearm.

Incident Details

At approximately 10:25 a.m., KPD’s Special Operations Squad approached the apartment on Tillery Road. After announcing their presence, they entered with the property owner’s consent. Inside, they encountered the man and the missing girl. During the encounter, the man produced a firearm and pointed it at officers, prompting them to return fire, fatally wounding him. The missing girl was unharmed and safely recovered. No officers were injured. Additionally, the juvenile struck an officer with a large knife; she will face charges for the assault.

Investigation and Protocol

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is leading the investigation into the incident, as per standard protocol for officer-involved shootings. The involved officers have been placed on routine administrative leave, and the Office of Professional Standards will conduct an internal administrative investigation. Body-worn camera footage is expected to be released within 14 days of the incident.

Why It Matters Locally

This incident underscores the challenges law enforcement faces in ensuring public safety while responding to critical situations involving minors.

Sources

• Knoxville Police Department
• WVLT News