Bodycam: Tenn. Police's Search for Missing Girl Leads to Violent Clash
What to know
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Knoxville police said a suspect was fatally shot after pointing a handgun at officers during an attempt to recover a missing 15-year-old girl.
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The juvenile was safely recovered, but she was charged with assault after striking an officer with a knife.
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The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the department's internal affairs unit are conducting ongoing investigations.
A 46-year-old man was fatally shot by Tennessee police after he pointed a handgun at officers as they were trying to recover a missing and endangered 15-year-old girl inside an apartment.
The officer-involved shooting happened Jan. 28 at an apartment complex, where Knoxville police Special Crimes detectives were following up on information that a missing juvenile was inside a unit with someone who wasn't a relative, the department stated in a press release. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation had issued an Endangered Child Alert for the girl the previous day.
Police said arrest warrants had been obtained charging the suspect, Angel Melendez, with concealing, harboring or hiding a runaway child, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and theft of a firearm.
At about 10:25 a.m., officers approached the apartment to safely recover the juvenile and take Melendez into custody. Officers knocked and announced their presence before entering the apartment with the owner’s consent, police said.
Shortly after entry, officers encountered Melendez and the juvenile inside a small bedroom. According to police, Melendez drew a handgun and pointed it at officers.
Lt. Shawn Shreve and Sgt. Chris Hutton fired their weapons, striking Melendez multiple times. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said seconds after the shooting, the juvenile struck Officer Terry Crowe in the head with a large knife. Crowe, who was wearing a helmet, was not injured.
The juvenile was taken into custody, charged with assault, and later evaluated at UT Medical Center. Police said the girl was safely recovered and not physically harmed.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is leading the criminal investigation, consistent with protocol for officer-involved shootings. The department also is conducting a parallel administrative review, and both investigations remain ongoing.