Elderly Suicidal Woman Fatally Shot by Officers and Deputies
TIPTON CO. Tenn.- Tipton County Deputies say an 63-year-old suicidal woman was shot and killed by Covington Police and Tipton County deputies early Sunday morning. According to investigators, around 8:00 am deputies received a call saying a suicidal woman, Nattela Ruth Blackwell, left her home with a handgun. Deputies say thirty minutes later, Covington Police Department officers observed her on the parking lot in the shopping center near Wal-Mart. Deputies arrived to assist and approached Blackwell who was displaying a handgun in the roadway. According to witnesses, she had fired the handgun prior to officers arriving while in the parking lot of the shopping center. Officers and deputies ordered Blackwell to drop the handgun. Investigators say she refused and pointed the handgun at officers, and officers and deputies shot Blackwell. Blackwell was pronounced dead at an area hospital The District Attorney‘s Office was contacted to request the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to investigate the incident. Preliminary reports indicate that Blackwell received a ride from the Marshall Road area to the parking lot of Wal-Mart at about 8:00 am. Blackwell was dropped off by what has been described as a blue passenger car, possibly a Dodge Neon. The Sheriff’s office said there were several people in the area at the time of the incident. Detectives are asking anyone who was in the area and witnessed the incident or made recording of the incident to contact the Criminal Investigations Division at 901-475-3300, Central Dispatch The deputies involved in this shooting have been placed on Administrative Leave pending the outcome of the TBI investigation
