Knoxville, TN Two juveniles are now in custody following an investigation into an attempted auto theft and shootout with police Monday in the Karns Community.
According to Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler, the first deputy responded to the scene in the Wexford Down area around 12:22 a.m. Monday morning and made contact with the first of the two suspects. That 17-year-old suspect then fired a gun at the deputy, Spangler said. He added that the shots did not hit the deputy, but did hit his cruiser.
The first suspect fled the scene, Spangler said, and after an initial investigation, deputies found that there had been another suspect in the area, also 17. Both of those suspects were taken into custody later Monday on car theft charges, Spangler said.
In a conference with local media Tuesday, Spangler made it clear that lawlessness in Knox County will not be tolerated.
“The sheriff’s office will not allow criminals, regardless of age, to create an unsafe environment for our officers or citizens,” Spangler said. “If you shoot at our officers, they will defend their lives and their community.”
Spangler added that the car thefts stemmed from a TikTok challenge where people steal cars, drive them for a day or two, then leave the car. All in all, Spangler said, between 30 and 40 cars have been stolen as part of the challenge since August.
Neither of the suspects have been identified, because they are teenagers. One of those suspects turned 18 the day after the incident, Spangler said.
The first teen was charged with criminal attempt to commit second-degree murder, prohibited possession of a firearm, possessing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony and property theft. The second suspect was charged with accessory after the fact, prohibited possession of a firearm and property theft.
