| Man who shot at deputies in stable condition |
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A man armed with an assault rifle exchanged gunfire with sheriff’s deputies before being shot Tuesday evening at a home near South Fulton.
The man — whose name has not been disclosed by authorities due to ongoing investigation — is listed in stable condition today at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, according to Obion County Sheriff Jerry Vastbinder.
The sheriff said two deputies from the Obion County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call of a suicidal person with a firearm about 5:20 p.m. Tuesday at a residence on Billy Jolley Road. The first officer to arrive on the scene received gunfire, with his patrol vehicle struck a couple of times.
“The second officer arrived on the scene seconds after the shooting started and they returned gunfire. The subject was struck,” Vastbinder said.
The suspect was airlifted to the Nashville hospital for treatment. Neither deputy was injured.
Vastbinder said other family members of the suspect had been at the residence, but they left before officers arrived because they apparently were in fear of being harmed.
One family member was still there, however, when the shooting occurred, but no injuries were reported.
Vastbinder said the shooting suspect was outside and was behind an outbuilding when the gunfire was exchanged with the officers. He said the shooting began as soon as officers arrived on the scene and was over within about five minutes.
“Lots of rounds were shot at the officers — more at them than they returned,” the sheriff said.
The incident is being investigated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation since it is an officer-involved shooting, which is why the names of those involved are not being disclosed, according to Vastbinder.
“They’re taking forensics to Nashville today,” he said. “They will have to give a report to the (district attorney). It’s in their hands.”
Posted 10.03.07 |
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