Two Tennessee deputies were wounded and a kidnapping suspect was killed in an exchange of gunfire on Interstate 75 after a pursuit across state lines, authorities said. The incident began in Catoosa County, Georgia, when deputies attempted to stop Tyler L. Roberts, 31, who was suspected of kidnapping a young child and assaulting an officer, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
The chase, which started on Sunday, continued onto I-75 and crossed into Tennessee. Deputies from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office joined the pursuit and deployed tire deflation devices in an attempt to capture the suspect. Upon the vehicle coming to a stop, the driver began shooting at the deputies, who returned fire and ultimately killed the suspect, as reported by the TBI.
Both Georgia and Tennessee deputies were involved in the pursuit. Two Hamilton County deputies sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Fortunately, the 18-month-old child involved in the kidnapping was unharmed but was taken to a hospital for evaluation.
Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett emphasized the danger faced by law enforcement personnel, stating, “While it is early in the investigative phase of this incident, it is apparent this individual was intent on getting away from authorities and clearly didn’t care who he endangered in the process. This incident highlights the incredible dangers our personnel face each day while performing their duties.”
Further details regarding the incident have not been released at this time.
