Attorney Bryan Hoss said Friday that an East Ridge officer shot and killed 54-year-old Todd Pickett on Aug. 19 only after he ran toward him with a metal weapon and repeatedly threatened to kill him.
He identified the officer who fied the shots as Lt. Daniel Stephenson.
An autopsy report said Pickett had three shots to the chest, another that went through his wrist and into his abdomen and another in the back.
Attorney Hoss gave this account:
"Lt. Stephenson responded to the AutoZone on Ringgold Road on a call that a man was inside a business with a weapon threatening to kill people that were inside and throwing objects around the store. Lt. Stephenson has been a police officer for the city of East Ridge for the last 11 years and prior to that service, he was also a police officer in Dalton, Ga. Lt. Stephenson spent seven of those years in East Ridge as a member of their SWAT team.
"Lt. Stephenson entered the business with his gun drawn. One of the employees behind the counter was terrified. Other customers were pointing out the suspect. The suspect was yelling, screaming and previously threatened customers with a knife. The suspect’s eyes were bulging like he might have been on drugs. Lt. Stephenson ordered the suspect to stand down, show him his hands and comply. The suspect threatened to kill the officer, kill himself and charged at Lt. Stephenson. Because Lt. Stephenson did not see a knife or other weapon in his hand, he did not fire. Lt. Stephenson showed tremendous restraint at that moment not to shoot him while in the store.
"The suspect got into his vehicle and again refused commands to stop. Lt. Stephenson obtained the suspect’s tag information. Dispatch quickly responded with the suspect’s address. Lt. Stephenson arrived just minutes later and located the suspect’s vehicle in the driveway.
"Lt. Stephenson used his SWAT experience and immediately began establishing a perimeter. One neighbor was standing outside and he ordered her into her home for safety. Lt. Stephenson retrieved his rifle from his trunk. He was waiting for back-up to arrive. However, moments later, the suspect noticed Lt. Stephenson. The suspect came barreling out of his front door armed with a large metallic weapon. The metal weapon was several feet long, appeared heavy and had a t-grip on one end. The suspect was swinging the weapon as he crossed his yard, yelling at the officer and headed directly for Lt. Stephenson. Again, he was saying to Lt. Stephenson that he was going to kill him and that the officer was going to have to shoot him.
"Lt. Stephenson pleaded for the man to stop. At one point, Lt. Stephenson told the suspect that he had a wife and children and said, 'Please, do not make me do this.' At this point, no back up had arrived. Yet, the suspect kept coming. Lt. Stephenson warned the suspect to comply, but he refused. When the suspect reached the point at which he could hit Lt. Stephenson with his metal weapon, Lt. Stephenson believed that his life was in jeopardy and had no other choice but to fire.
"After hitting the suspect, other officers arrived. EMS was called immediately and the officers attempted what medical treatment they could on the suspect.
"After 14 years in law enforcement, Lt. Stephenson had never been put in the position to have to fire his weapon before that encounter. His training kicked in and fortunately, he got to go home that night to his family and kids. These officers face tremendous, unexpected and dangerous situations every day. In the end, if they rely on their training, like Lt. Stephenson, it keeps all of us safer.
"Like all officer-involved shootings, Lt. Stephenson was placed on administrative leave for one week. He has since re-joined the department and will continue to serve the citizens of East Ridge.”