McMinn County deputy kills armed suspect in Niota, Tenn.

Friday, January 1, 1904

photo A police chase turned deadly after the suspect was shot while running from deputies in McMinn County.
Arkansas-North Carolina Live Blog

A McMinn County, Tenn., sheriff's deputy shot and killed a theft suspect Monday morning, authorities said.

Two McMinn sheriff's deputies went to a residence at County Road 250 to serve arrest warrants to Allan Shepherd, 37, and his wife, Leah Shepherd. The two were charged with theft over $60,000 and owning or operating a chop shop, McMinn Sheriff Joe Guy said.

Allan Shepherd ran out of the back of the home, and deputies chased him on foot for a quarter of a mile into a wooded area, Guy said. One of the deputies was within 100 feet of Shepherd and repeatedly ordered him to stop and surrender.

When Allan Shepherd pulled out a handgun in the wooded area, the deputy warned him to drop the weapon, Guy said. Allan Shepherd pointed the gun at the deputy, and then the deputy fired his weapon, killing Allan Shepherd, Guy said.

Both deputies were put on paid administrative leave, as is standard procedure for this type incident, Guy said. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating the shooting, and TBI agents found another gun at the scene that Allan Shepherd had been carrying.

"My officer was facing a suspect armed with two handguns and extra ammunition," Guy said in a news release. "So far, it appears he reacted as he should have in this situation."

Leah Shepherd was arrested and booked in the McMinn County Justice Center, Guy said.