McMinn County authorities say the man shot to death by sheriff’s deputies Monday was the target of a chop shop investigation going back to July.
Allan Shepherd, 37, was killed Monday after he fled out the back of his County Road 250 home when two deputies tried to serve warrants on him and his 34-year-old wife, Leah, Sheriff Joe Guy said. The warrants charged the couple with theft over $60,000 and owning or operating a chop shop.
A chop shop is an illegal business that takes stolen cars, disassembles them and sells the parts.
On Wednesday, Guy identified the officers involved as Sgt. Mike Hayes and Deputy Blake Witt, both of whom are on paid administrative leave while the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation probes the shooting, which is standard practice in such cases.
Witt fired the fatal shot, while Hayes was at the scene but did not fire, Guy said.