A man was shot and fatally wounded by police early Wednesday after they say he took three hostages and pointed a gun at responding officers.
The incident, described as an “emotional crisis” by Chattanooga police, happened just after 4:30 a.m. in the 3700 block of Kellys Ferry Road.
Police officers responding to the call were told a suspect, later identified as 42-year-old Jerry Reeves, was “armed with a long gun, holding three hostages,” a news release states.
Officers set up a perimeter around the residence and the on-duty hostage negotiation team established communication with the suspect in an attempt to persuade him to disarm himself and come outside, officials said.
Reeves then came out with the long gun. Officers gave verbal commands for the suspect to drop the firearm, the release states, but he did not comply and raised his weapon toward police.