Investigation continues following cross-county pursuit that left one dead
UPDATE (8/23/24): TBI says the subject who died as a result of this incident has been identified as 32-year-old Zachary Johnson.
SALTILLO, Tenn. — We have a follow-up to a previous story of an officer-involved shooting.
According to a statement released from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the incident originated in Chester County near Henderson when a deputy initiated a traffic stop of a vehicle driving recklessly at approximately 9:15 a.m. Wednesday morning.
TBI says the driver refused to stop and a pursuit began. During the pursuit, TBI says the driver briefly stopped and presented a weapon, pointing it at deputies causing the deputies to fire their weapons.
The driver fled the scene, and during the course of the pursuit, TBI says he fired from the vehicle in the direction of law enforcement. Multiple agencies joined the pursuit, which entered McNairy County then Hardin County.
At approximately 10:15 a.m., the suspect drove down a boat ramp near Saltillo into the Tennessee river.
TBI says when multiple law enforcement officers entered the water to apprehend the suspect, he presented the weapon again and did not comply with their commands, then submerged underwater and did not resurface until his body was recovered hours later.
We spoke to a Saltillo resident off camera that stated that law enforcement was seen retrieving a gun out of the river this morning. We have not had confirmation on that as of yet.
The body has since been transported to the medical examiner’s office in Nashville for an autopsy. No law enforcement officers were injured.
We spoke to the 26th Judicial District Attorney Jody Pickens who stated that he was informed of the incident in Chester County that escalated to a pursuit. Pickens also let us know that he asked TBI to conduct an investigation.
Throughout the process, TBI stated that their agents are working to independently determine the series of events leading to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews.
The TBI does not identify the officers involved in these incidents and instead refers questions of that nature to the respective department to answer as they see fit.
SEE ALSO: Suspect dead after police pursuit ends at Tennessee River (8/22/24)
SEE ALSO: PHOTOS: Suspect drives into river following police pursuit, sources say (8/21/24)
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