Officer-Involved Shooting Leaves One Suspect Dead, Another Fugitive After Hemp Store Burglary

CHATTANOOGA, TN — An early morning response to a commercial break-in escalated into an officer-involved shooting, leaving one suspect dead and a second suspect fleeing from law enforcement. The incident took place at a local hemp retail store in Chattanooga, where officers responded to a triggered burglar alarm.

Upon arriving on the scene, responding officers encountered two individuals actively burglarizing the business. During the confrontation, an officer discharged their firearm, striking one of the suspects. Despite medical intervention, the injured suspect died from their injuries. The second suspect managed to escape the scene on foot and remains at large despite a large-scale police search of the surrounding area.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has taken over the investigation into the shooting, as is standard practice for officer-involved incidents in the region. Investigators are reviewing body-worn camera footage and store security feeds. Chattanooga police are urging anyone with information on the whereabouts of the fugitive suspect to contact the department immediately.