Chattanooga police: man pulls gun on young children, tells them they're going to die

Friday, January 1, 1904

photo Joseph Kagombe

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A 29-year-old man faces seven counts of aggravated assault after police said he pointed an air soft gun at his neighbors, including several young children.

The Daisy Air Model gun that police seized is made to look like a Beretta Model 92, according to the arrest report.

Chattanooga police responded Tuesday to apartments at 4527 Hancock Road after receiving numerous calls that Joseph Kagombe was threatening other residents with a handgun.

A woman knocked on Kagombe's door to ask him a question. He reportedly told her he had been sleeping and became angry. Kagombe brandished the gun and pointed it at the woman's head.

Another woman pulled up in a car during the incident. She had an 11-year-old boy, 8-year-old girl and 3-year-old girl with her in the car.

Kagombe turned the gun on the boy, saying, "You are going to die tonight." The gun was pointed at others in the same manner, according to the report.

When Kagombe was taken into custody, officers found the gun on the bed in the master bedroom. On the way to the jail, Kagombe reportedly threatened officers.

Kagombe also faces charges of disorderly conduct and public intoxication stemming from the same incident.

He had just been released from jail Monday, the report states. He is on probation for previous assault charges. Authorities are looking into Kagombe's immigration status. He is from Kenya.

As of Wednesday, he remained incarcerated on a $177,000 bond.

He is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday before Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge David Bales.

Contact staff writer Beth Burger at bburger@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6406. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/abburger.