Tennessee: A Chattanooga officer shot during a late-night response at a Circle K in Hixson is recovering after police say a suspect opened fire, triggering a shootout and a cross-country chase in a stolen patrol car.
The Chattanooga Police Department said officers were dispatched after reports of shots being fired. When officers arrived, police said the suspect fired at them, and officers returned fire. During the exchange, one Chattanooga officer was struck by the suspect’s gunfire.
Chattanooga Fire and Hamilton County EMS transported the injured officer to a local hospital, and police said the officer was in stable condition in the initial hours after the shooting.
Police said the suspect stole a marked Chattanooga Police vehicle to escape the scene and fled into Sequatchie County, where the vehicle crashed. Authorities said the suspect tried to run from the crash but was captured.
After the suspect was taken into custody, police said it was determined he had also been shot during the incident. Emergency crews transported the suspect to a hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
At the request of the Hamilton County District Attorney, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating the officer-involved shooting, according to the City of Chattanooga.
The suspect was identified as James Alvin Stockwell of Dunlap, Tennessee. The Hamilton County grand jury indictment listed multiple felony counts, including three counts of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, carjacking, and firearm-related charges tied to a prior felony, with a bond reported at $225,000.
Field Lessons are offered strictly as general, industry-standard reminders drawn from common safety practices and typical policy considerations. They are not based on any inside knowledge of this specific incident, do not presume what actions were taken, and should not be interpreted as commentary on the decisions made at the scene.
-
Prioritize vehicle security during high-threat contacts, keep long guns secured, control access points, and maintain awareness of where your keys and unit are during chaotic moments.
-
If a suspect flees in a marked unit, assume the vehicle itself becomes a weapon and a deception tool, coordinate containment early, and communicate unit identifiers to prevent friendly confusion.
Dr. Travis Yates has pioneered a behavioral risk framework to help officers and leaders identify, assess, and articulate risk in rapidly evolving, uncertain situations. Find out more about the FOCUS Behavioral Risk Framework.
