Decatur: One cousin dead, one jailed after shooting

© DECATUR, Tenn. — Relatives on Thursday afternoon identified the man killed in a confrontation with police at the Meigs County Recreation Park as Stephen Shaw, 25, of McMinn County.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Meigs County Sheriff Walter Hickman would not confirm the identification on the record, but a spokesman for the family said the shooting victim was Mr. Shaw.

Mr. Shaw’s cousin, Chris David Shaw, remains in the Meigs County Jail on charges of possessing a controlled substance and possessing drug paraphernalia, Sheriff Hickman said.

Meanwhile, authorities have backed away from initial statements that the shooting happened when after one of two men who were discovered with a meth lab in a car fired on a TVA police officer.

This afternoon, TBI officials said the man may have pointed the weapon and threatened the officer without pulling the trigger.

According to TVA spokesman Gil Francis, the incident began when the TVA officer found a meth lab just after midnight Thursday in a remote park area. He called for backup and a Meigs County deputy joined him.

Sheriff Hickman said the officers began checking campers in the area, and Stephen Shaw ran from the scene, but apparently returned and grabbed a rifle.

The officer, whose name has not been released, fired at Mr. Shaw, killing him. His body has been sent to Knoxville for an autopsy, the sheriff said.

The TBI is conducting an investigation, which it always does when an officer is involved in a shooting, spokeswoman Kristen Helm said.

Mr. Francis said TVA will not be releasing any further information on the incident. Ms. Helm said TBI will have no further information until the victim’s name is officially released.

See Friday’s Times Free Press for complete coverage.