Edward Ahrens, who was a suspect in a Knox County kidnapping, was shot 16 times after police confronted him last month, according to an autopsy report obtained by WVLT News.

Ahrens was the subject of a multi-agency investigation after an 11-year-old went missing out of Knox County. During the investigation, the girl was listed on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s endangered child list.

According to the TBI, investigators with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, in cooperation with Catoosa County, GA investigators and East Ridge and GA Police Department officers stopped Ahrens on I-75 just across the Georgia line on February 2nd.

During the stop, Ahrens, who was listed on the Georgia Sex Offender Registry, reportedly rammed several cruisers, giving three KCSO deputies minor injuries, prompting officers to fire on him.

The autopsy report lists Ahren’s cause of death as “multiple gunshot wounds.” The girl was found in his custody inside Ahren’s car, but rescued safely. Story courtesy of WVLT

A fisherman on Norris Lake with a very unusual catch.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency says an alligator was caught yesterday (Monday) afternoon after an angler called authorities after he caught the gator in Dotson Creek, also known as Butcher Hollow.

TWRA says it’s illegal to possess an alligator in Tennessee and releasing them into the wild poses safety and biological threats to humans and the ecosystem.

While the origin of the alligator is unclear, TWRA officials say it is evident that it was being illegally held in captivity and possibly released into Norris Lake.

TWRA took the gator to Little Ponderosa Zoo and Rescue in Anderson County.

The Metro Nashville Police Department says missing college student Riley Strain’s bank card has been found near the Cumberland River.

Police say his card was found yesterday (Sunday) afternoon on the embankment between Gay Street and the Cumberland River.

A woman helping in the search for Strain says it wasn’t easy to find that card. She says there is so much trash and debris along the bank of the river.

A body was found in the Cumberland River in Nashville yesterday (Sunday) but it is not Strain or missing autistic teen Sebastian Rogers.

The search for 22-year-old Riley Strain continues over a week after he went missing on March 8th.

The University of Missouri Student was last seen on security footage stumbling around downtown Nashville, at one point falling and clutching his head.

His cell phone last pinged off near the James Robertson Parkway bridge close to the Cumberland River which is where law enforcement has been focusing their search efforts.

On Saturday, Nashville emergency officials used two sonar boats, four canines, one Nashville Fire Department boat and crew, one dive team and one drone and operator. Crews used the canines to narrow down an area near the Riverfront Park. They sent a team of divers into the water.

Nashville Office of Emergency Management public information officer Kendra Loney said during their search nothing conclusive was located.

Emergency officials wrapped up their search around 2:30 p.m. Officials said they would not continue their search tomorrow unless they were requested by the Metro Nashville Police Department to do, Loney said.

In addition to law enforcement and emergency officials, locals in the area have deployed their own teams to help search. Story courtesy of WVLT

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: The Knoxville Police Department Monday afternoon shared that a fourth teen, a male, was taken into custody Monday morning.

KPD officials say the teen had a backpack that “officers retained from the scene of the shots fired incident, which upon further investigation contained suspected marijuana and a gun that was reported stolen in Knox County in 2023.”

The department shared that there are additional charges possibly pending for others who were detained at the scene.

The investigation is ongoing.

ORIGINAL STORY: Knoxville Police are investigating after shots were fired near West Town Mall.

KPD says it appears the shots were fired on Gleason Drive near Belk Saturday night.

Three juvenile males were detained by officers, one 15-year-old was found in possession of marijuana and a loaded handgun that was reported stolen in Knox County, he is facing charges.

The other two juveniles, both 16 years old, one was found in possession of a loaded handgun and suspected burglary tools, and the other was charged with evading arrest.

KPD says additional charges may still be pending for other individuals who were detained at the scene.