The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation into an officer-involved shooting that happened at apartment complex on Tillery Road on Wednesday morning.

On Wednesday, January 28, 2026, Knoxville Police Department Special Crimes detectives were following up on credible information that a 15-year-old girl who was the subject of an Endangered Child Alert that was issued on Tuesday was inside of an apartment with a 46-year-old man, who had no relation to the missing girl.  

Warrants were placed on file charging the man with concealing, harboring or hiding a runaway child, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and theft of a firearm.

At approximately 10:25 a.m., Special Operations Squad personnel approached the apartment and knocked and announced their presence multiple times before entering the apartment with the consent of the property owner.

While checking the apartment, SOS personnel encountered both the aforementioned man and the missing girl. While attempting to detain the two, the man produced a firearm and pointed it at officers. Officers then fired at the man, striking him multiple times. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The missing girl was unharmed and safely recovered. No officers were injured.

During the encounter, an SOS officer was struck in the head by the missing juvenile with a large knife. The officer, who was wearing a helmet, was unharmed by the strike, while the juvenile will be charged for the assault.

Per standard protocol, TBI will lead the investigation. The involved officers will be placed on routine administrative leave, while the Office of Professional Standards will conduct an internal administrative investigation.

Per department policy, in the event of a critical incident, the Office of Public Information will work in coordination with the Technical Services Unit and other appropriate department personnel to compile the relevant body-worn camera video for public release. KPD expects to release the video within 14 days of the incident.