12-5-16 UPDATE/12-1-16 Shooting (Officer Involved) - 1000 block Mission Ave.

UPDATE:

• The officer who was shot is still recovering and doing well. He is on paid administrative leave until he returns to duty.
• The officer will not be identified until the suspect is captured and motivation is determined.
• The safety of the officer and his family are of paramount importance.
• The officer did fire his duty weapon which was was retrieved by investigators.
• The officer drove himself to Erlanger for medical treatment immediately after being shot.
• The officer's bullet resistant vest did stop one of the three rounds which struck him.
• The officer did not have a body worn camera and his vehicle was not in a position to record the incident
• The officer was not dispatched to the location; he was being proactive in his patrol duties and responding to an abandoned apartment which has received multiple complaints in the past.
• There have been criminal trespassing issues reported as well as suspicious activities/possibly narcotics use in the vacant apartments.
• The officer was shot outside of the structure.
• The investigators with the Violent Crimes Bureau are currently following up on all actionable leads.
• The suspect has not been identified as of yet.
• The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), International Brotherhood of Police Officers (IBPO), Crimes Stoppers and community businesses have increased the reward for information which leads to the capture of the shooting suspect to $11,500.
• Call 911 or 423-698-2525 to report any info.

ORIGINAL RELEASE:

At approximately 9:16 Thursday morning, December 1, 2016 an officer with the Chattanooga Police Department was investigating suspicious activity in the area of 1001 Mission Ave when he was shot by a unknown suspect.

The following are preliminary facts of that investigation:

• The officer was shot 3 times
• The officer's injuries are non-life-threatening at this time
• He was treated and released from Erlanger Hospital this morning and is with family
• The officer's name will NOT be released by the CPD until the investigation uncovers more information about the motive of the shooting
• The identity of the suspect is unknown at this time
• The suspect is described as a black male with medium complexion, wearing dark pants & a dark sweatshirt with white writing on the front, about 5' 10", slim or medium build
• Chattanooga Police, in cooperation with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, set up a perimeter in the area of the shooting
• After a thorough search of the area no suspect was located and the perimeter has been opened to traffic
• Crime Stoppers as well as concerned community businesses have contributed $6000 as a reward for information leading to the capture of the suspect
• Anyone with information on the suspect is encouraged to call 911 immediately. (Do not call the Crime Stoppers number with this information)
• Members of the Violent Crimes Bureau are actively working the case and following several leads in the investigation

Chattanooga Police ask anyone with information regarding this incident to call 911 directly. The investigation is ongoing and more information will be released when available.

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NOTE: The preceding information is preliminary and is subject to change as the investigation continues