An Alabama man is in critical condition at Erlanger hospital in Chattanooga after he threatened to kill himself and was shot by a DeKalb County sheriff’s deputy, authorities said.
Sheriff’s deputies found Larry Steele, of Mentone, intoxicated and waving a gun threatening to kill himself on Country Road 635 around 7 p.m. Monday night, Sheriff Jimmy Harris said in a news release.
When the 45-year-old man refused to drop his weapon an officer shot him with a Taser stun gun, Harris said. But the Taser was ineffective.
Steele then began to raise his weapon at the officer who had Tased him, Harris said. The officer took cover, shot at Steele and bullets hit him twice, Harris said.
The deputies performed first aid on Steele and he was taken by ambulance to Erlanger for treatment, Harris said.