ALAMO, Tenn. - The weekend shooting death of a man by officers executing a search warrant at a home has prompted an investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the agency said Monday.
Agents of Tennessee's top law enforcement agency gathered information Monday about the shooting in Alamo in the western part of the state, the bureau's statement said. It added that the shooting occurred at 3:30 a.m. Sunday while deputies of Crockett County and a Maury City police officer were executing the warrant.
The statement said 28-year-old Ronald Branch, who did not live at the residence, entered with a weapon and the situation escalated, leading to shots being fired.
TBI spokesman Josh DeVine said it's not clear who fired first.
Police said Branch, who was white, was shot and died later at a hospital. The deputies and the officer weren't hurt. Their races weren't immediately disclosed.
Crockett County Sheriff Troy Klyce told The Jackson Sun that Branch had "multiple handguns" when he entered the residence. He said the deputies were placed on routine administrative leave while the shooting investigation continues.
Klyce said he's glad his deputies weren't hurt but noted that the fatal shooting will impact the community.
"Obviously we're grateful they're not hurt, but we know the family and knew (Branch) and it makes it tough," Kylce said. "It's not like a big city where you don't' know nobody or nothing ... It makes it a lot harder."
The TBI said it would present its findings to District Attorney General Garry Brown.