Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond on Friday praised local officers for taking "immediate action" in the wake of Thursday's tragic shooting.
He said, "The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office is deeply saddened by the tragic events that occurred in our community yesterday. We would like to offer our sincere prayers to the families of the military personnel who were killed or injured while serving their country.
"Furthermore, we would like to offer our appreciation and support to the Chattanooga Police officer who was injured in the line of duty while protecting the citizens of Chattanooga. As sheriff, I am proud of the response and immediate action taken by members of the Chattanooga Police Department, Chief Fred Fletcher, and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office in order to protect our county and those in harm’s way.
"The HCSO appreciates the tremendous display of support offered to our local law enforcement agencies and military by the citizens of Hamilton County. Rest assured we will assist local, state, and federal agencies in every way possible as this investigation continues."