Man Stabs Three Family Members, Takes Baby As Hostage

  • Saturday, August 26, 2006

A Chattanooga man is in custody after stabbing three people and a 4½ hour SWAT stand off with the Chattanooga SWAT Team.

Chattanooga Police were called to 7663 Bishop Dr., Apt. #5, on Saturday morning around 1 a.m. on a stabbing. When officers arrived they were informed by the three victims that they had been stabbed by Anthony Carter, 27, of that address.

According to Domestic Violence Investigator Vincent Holoman, the stabbing was domestic related.

The suspect’s ex-girlfriend, Deidra Jarrett, 22, of Chattanooga, her 17-year-old brother, and her mother, Donna Jarrett, 45, of Chattanooga, were moving personal items from the apartment at 7663 Bishop Dr. when Carter began to argue with her about leaving, police said.

Officers said Carter then pulled a knife and began to stab Deidra Jarrett several times. Ms. Jarrett screamed for help, then her mother came to her aid. The suspect stabbed her, then stabbed her mother several times in the stomach, chest and neck. The 17-year-old brother also was cut to the right side of his head as he pulled the suspect from his sister and mother.

The suspect then took their 4-month- old baby to an upstairs apartment and barricaded himself and the baby in it.

The Chattanooga SWAT Team and the Hostage Negotiation Team responded to the scene and began to negotiate with Carter. After four hours of negotiations with the SWAT Team, the suspect agreed to release the baby for some bottled water.

Chattanooga SWAT was then able to rescue the small infant without harm when Carter put the infant in the hallway to get the water.

The suspect was tazed before he was taken into custody.

Deidra Jarrett and her brother are listed in stable condition at Erlanger Medical Center. The mother, Donna Jarrett, underwent surgery and is listed in critical condition.

The suspect is charged with three counts of attempted murder, three counts of aggravated assault, and three counts of reckless endangerment.

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