Updated story: 6/11/24 11:28 p.m. The Blount County Deputies injured in a shooting responding to a domestic disturbance are identified and the suspect is in custody.

The shooting happened yesterday afternoon after deputies, Edward Walker and Corbin Smith, responded to a home on Jacob Springs Road. A home officials say police were familiar with because they had responded to it before for domestic situations. An elderly woman was inside the home and she is safe.

Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong says the suspect, 59-year-old Ronald Reed Millsaps, fired an estimated 150-300 rounds at the deputies with a high-powered rifle. Several other county and state agencies responded to the scene to offer support to BCSO. Millsaps is facing several felony charges.

The deputies were taken to UT Medical Center with “non-life-threatening” injuries and are in stable condition.

Berrong says they were told weapons were in each room of the home and Deputies were able to rescue Deputy’s Smith and Walker while taking gunfire from Millsaps.

Emotions running high following the death of Deputy Greg McCowan in February. “This is amazing. 34 years and not have a deputy shot, and in four months have this happen,” Berrong said.

At the request of 5^th Judicial District Attorney General Ryan Desmond, TBI agents are investigating the circumstances leading to an officer-involved shooting that occurred Tuesday afternoon involving deputies with the Blount County Sheriff’s Office.

Preliminary information indicates that just before 3:30 p.m., deputies with the Blount County Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic disturbance in the 1100 block of Jacob Springs Boulevard in Rockford. For reasons still under investigation, shortly after deputies arrived on scene, shots were fired by a male subject, resulting in the deputies returning fire. During the exchange of gunfire, two deputies were struck. They were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The male subject barricaded himself inside the residence but was eventually taken into custody. He was not injured during the incident.

TBI agents are working to independently determine the series of events leading to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews. Throughout the process, investigative findings will be shared with the District Attorney General for his further review and consideration. The TBI acts solely as fact-finders in its cases and does not determine whether the actions of an officer were justified in these types of matters. That decision rests with the District Attorney General requesting TBI’s involvement. 

Original Story: Rockford, TN (WOKI) A suspect is in custody after two Blount County Sheriff’s Office deputies were shot responding to a domestic call in Rockford Tuesday afternoon.

BCSO officials say the shooting happened after deputies responded to a home on Jacob Springs Boulevard around 4:00 p.m.

BCSO says at some point after arriving in Rockford, the situation escalated and shots were fired, hitting the deputies in the legs. The two BCSO deputies were taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center with “non-life-threatening” injuries.

Officials say deputies were familiar with the home, because they had responded to it before for domestic situations.

A man in his 50’s was taken into custody following a stand-off with authorities.

Other agencies responded to the scene as well, including the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation will investigate the officer-involved shooting, as is standard operating procedure for the agency.

Old Knoxville Highway was closed for several hours after the shooting but reopened just before 6:30 p.m.

Knoxville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) Zoo Knoxville curators announcing Tuesday that Kumi, a 25-year-old female Western lowland gorilla, has moved to the Scruffy City!

She’ll join a family of six other gorillas, including silverback male Bantu, females Hope, Machi, and Kowali, and juveniles Obi and Andi.

The Zoo Knoxville team is keeping a close eye on Kumi as curators say she is still getting used to the new environment.

Western lowland gorillas are considered critically endangered. Zoo Knoxville is working with zoos around the country to keep a stable population in human care.

“If we are going to protect the species, we need to ensure we have a genetically sustainable population of gorillas that are thriving in the care of AZA-accredited zoos,” said KateLyn Miller, great apes keeper. “Kumi is genetically important, and we hope to successfully introduce her to Bantu. Her wellbeing is our top priority, and our first steps are to make sure Kumi’s transition to our group here in Knoxville is a positive one done at her own pace.”

Kumi is set to make her debut this weekend at Zoo Knoxville’s Gorilla Valley habitat.

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A man is facing multiple charges including vehicular homicide following a fatal hit and run late Monday night on Loves Creek Road.

Knoxville Police Department officials say the crash happened around 11:40 p.m. The suspect, Eliser Correra Romero, reportedly hit a pedestrian before leaving the scene. KPD says responding officers found the victim deceased on the side of the road, near the tree line.

Correra Romero was arrested a short distance from the scene; KPD says his car had damage consistent with the crash, and he was allegedly intoxicated.

He is facing several charges to include vehicular homicide due to driver intoxication.