Joel HarrisCourt records identify the suspect shot by an officer on June 16 as Joel Harris, 50.
Two officers responded to the 400 block of Tunnel Boulevard at 7:35 p.m. on a report of a disorder involving a weapon in an apartment, according to an arrest report. Officers found Harris in the parking lot, but he refused to obey verbal commands and instead fled on foot.
An officer chased Harris on foot into a nearby apartment building and Harris allegedly pulled a firearm out of a bag he was carrying, firing a shot in the direction of police as they all ran into the yard of the apartment complex. The pursuing officer returned fire.
At that point, the other officer reached the yard and saw the suspect running in his direction with a firearm in his hand. Harris pointed the gun at the officer and fired at least one shot before the officer shot and struck him in the leg.
Harris initially refused to drop the gun, even as he sat on the ground wounded, but finally threw it away when commanded to by one of the officers. The gun was a 9mm Luger Hi-Point that had been reported stolen in Chattanooga on May 29, 2017.