Traffic was long blocked at the scene of shooting near the Ooltewah exit
Two Hamilton County deputies were shot on Sunday night in an exchange of shots with an alleged kidnapper, who was shot dead by law enforcement.
The deputies were involved in a pursuit that began in Catoosa County involving the kidnapping of an 18-month-old child and an armed suspect. The call originated with the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office.
The pursuit ended after HCSO deputies were able to successfully spike strip and box the vehicle in near the I-75 Ooltewah Exit.
The Sheriff's Office said, "Immediately following this maneuver shots were exchanged between the suspect and deputies. The suspect is deceased, and two Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office deputies were shot in the exchange of gunfire. Both deputies were transported by Hamilton County EMS to a local hospital with what appear to be non-life-threatening injuries. Thankfully, the 18-month-old child involved in the incident did not receive any serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital for medical review."
Sheriff Austin Garrett said, “While it is early in the investigative phase of this incident, it is apparent this individual was intent on getting away from authorities and clearly didn’t care who he endangered in the process. I am grateful the child is safe, and our deputies only sustained non-life-threatening injuries. This incident highlights the incredible dangers our personnel face each day while performing their duties. I am honored to serve alongside the brave men and women of the HCSO as they protect and serve our community.”
Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp has directed the TBI to conduct the investigation into the deputy-involved shooting.
Northbound I-75 was closed for a lengthy period while investigators conduct an investigation.
The names of the two deputies are not being released at this time.
The man who shot the deputies and was killed was identified as Tyler Lebron Roberts, of Ringgold, Ga.
Catoosa County Sheriff deputies responded to 641 Karen Dr. on Sunday around 8:30 p.m. for a report of a domestic violence incident occurring at that residence and one person having a gun.
As deputies arrived on the scene a woman was in the yard and Roberts was in a vehicle attempting to leave. The woman yelled to the deputies that her baby was in the car, and he was taking him. Roberts hit a parked car and ran over a bicycle that deflated his passenger front tire while trying to leave the scene.
Deputies confronted Roberts in the roadway with their weapons drawn and he raised the child in front of him. Deputies gave commands to stop but he drove through them, striking one of them in the leg but not causing injury.
Deputies pursued Roberts into Tennessee where Tennessee law enforcement ultimately took the lead in the pursuit and stopped him.
Tyler Roberts is the boyfriend of the woman at the scene, and they live at the incident location. They had been arguing most of the day and Roberts had a knife and a gun with which he threatened the victim. The victim said he slashed the tires on her car so she could not leave and kept her phone from her.
Roberts is the father of the juvenile and, according to the victim, he thought if he allowed her to leave, she would take the child away from him. The victim was finally allowed to have her phone and she called a family member to come get her and she called 911.