SWEETWATER, Tenn. (WATE) — Authorities are investigating an officer-involved shooting near Sweetwater, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. A person has been taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds.
A spokesperson with the U.S. Marshals Service, Eastern District of Tennessee, stated in a news release email that Deputy U.S, Marshals from the Knoxville U.S. Marshals office and members of the U.S. Marshals Smoky Mountain Fugitive Task Force were involved in a shooting near Sweetwater in Monroe County. The shooting occurred around 9 a.m. in the 2000 block of Hiwassee Road.
The spokesperson said USMS had been assisting the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office in locating a suspect; they were unable to release the subject’s name at this time. The sheriff’s office shared with WATE that the suspect had an active warrant on file for Violation of Sex Offender Registry.
“LCSO has been actively seeking this person and had information that he has absconded and is possibly living outside of Loudon County. Due to that information, the United States Marshals Service Smoky Mountain Fugitive Task Force was contacted to assist in locating the individual,” shared a spokesperson for LCSO.
According to preliminary information from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, US Marshals shot the subject after he pointed a firearm at officers.
The spokesperson added that no Loudon County officers were present during the shooting.
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No law enforcement personnel were injured. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is responding to conduct a shooting investigation.