EAST RIDGE, Tenn. — Police fatally shot a suspect accused of shooting a Tennessee officer during a traffic stop, authorities said.
East Ridge Police Corporal Terry Prescott was wounded Sunday afternoon after stopping a red Dodge Challenger in the parking lot of a CVS pharmacy, police told news outlets.
Police Chief Stan Allen said the suspect, later identified as Christopher J. Kitts, 43, jumped out of the Challenger, fired several shots at Prescott’s patrol car, and then drove away. Prescott was taken to a hospital and listed in stable condition, WTVC reported.
More from Catoosa Co: "Sheriff Sisk said Kitts refused to follow lawful commands and again tried to shoot at law enforcement officers. Officers returned fire and Kitts was shot and succumbed to his injuries." pic.twitter.com/uPw2Sj4X9T
— Latricia Thomas (@LatriciaTnc9) October 19, 2020
Update 10-19-2020 0510 HRS:
The fugitive was located after an extensive air and ground search by multiple law…
Posted by East Ridge Police Department on Sunday, October 18, 2020
The Georgia State Patrol later located the deserted Challenger across the state line in a subdivision in Rossville, Fox News reported.
Multiple law enforcement agencies conducted an extensive air and ground search and found Kitts, who engaged officers several times with gunfire before he was shot, East Ridge Police said Monday morning in a statement on Facebook. Kitts was pronounced dead at the scene, according to WTVC.
Police did not say where Kitts was shot, but the statement said information on law enforcement actions inside Georgia would likely come from Catoosa County officials.