UPDATE (November 18, 2024, 1 p.m.): The Knoxville Police Department has identified the two officers who were involved in the November 12th shooting that happened in the 2600 block of Fairview Street as Officers Alexandra Burns and Eric Smith.

Both Burns and Smith have served with the KPD since 2020 and are currently assigned to the Field Operations East District. Per standard protocol, both officers have been placed on routine administrative leave.

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UPDATE (November 13, 2024, 3:40 p.m.): The man who was shot by Knoxville Police Department officers while wielding a hatchet or small axe on Tuesday afternoon in the 2600 block of Fairview Street has been identified as Christopher Arons, 52 of Knoxville.

Arons remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition.

Arons had two outstanding warrants out of Knox County at the time of the incident, including for violation of probation. Additional warrants have been placed on file charging Arons with two counts of aggravated assault against the two first responding officers as well as two counts of vandalism for damaging two different vehicles prior to officer arrival.

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The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation into an officer-involved shooting that happened on Tuesday afternoon in North Knoxville.

At just before 1:15 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, Knoxville Police Department officers were dispatched to what was reported as an active domestic situation involving a man armed with an axe outside of a home in the 2600 block of Fairview Street. The man was reportedly drunk, had smashed the window of a car parked on the road, and was acting violent and belligerent.

Officers quickly responded, arriving on scene at around 1:20 p.m., and confronted the man, who was armed with an axe. Officers asked the man to drop the axe multiple times while attempting to retreat, but he refused to do so and continued to make his way towards officers. Officers then fired, striking the man at least one time.

After shots were fired, officers requested an ambulance and provided medical assistance. The man was transported from the scene to the UT Medical Center, where he remains hospitalized in critical condition.

No officers were injured in the incident.

Per standard protocol, the TBI will lead the investigation.

The involved officers have been placed on routine administrative leave, and the Office of Professional Standards will conduct an internal administrative investigation.