A Bradley County deputy shot and killed a man who was a suspect in a stabbing early Sunday morning.
The Sheriff's Office said, "At approximately 11:54 p.m. on Saturday, a call was received at the Cleveland/Bradley County 911 Center to report a stabbing at a residence on Leyland Drive in Charleston.
"The caller indicated a male had been stabbed and another male had fled from the scene. Upon arriving on the scene, our personnel started searching the area and came in contact with a male at approximately 12:39 a.m. Bradley County Sheriff Office Deputy Corey Loftis and Charleston Police Department's Jimmy Woody encountered the male on Billingsley Street in Charleston. This resulted in a physical altercation.
"Fearing for their safety, Deputy Loftis fired his weapon hitting the male, and both officers immediately began life-saving measures until Bradley County EMS arrived. The male was transported to Tennova Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The identity of the deceased male will be released at a later time, once next of kin has been notified.
"The investigation into the incident will be conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, which is our agency’s standard practice for any officer-involved shooting. In accordance with our agency’s General Orders, Deputy Corey Loftis will be placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Deputy Loftis is currently assigned to the Public Safety Unit which is a specialized unit to investigate traffic collisions and enforce traffic laws."