Javario Eagle, 24, was shot to death by Chattanooga police officers on Dec. 12, 2015, after officers said he endangered a small child. 
Javario EagleThe Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office has finished its probe into the fatal police-involved shooting of 24-year-old Javario Eagle and turned the results over to the district attorney’s office.
District Attorney General Neal Pinkston received the report today and will review the case for two to three weeks, office spokeswoman Melydia Clewell said in a news release. He will not comment until that time.
Police said multiple officers fired when Eagle, armed with a gun, endangered a 4-year-old child and a police officer outside 5113 Woodland View Circle in the Emma Wheeler Homes on Dec. 12, 2015.
Eagle was pronounced dead at Erlanger hospital that evening from his injuries.
Police said Hamilton County 9-1-1 got a call at 11:51 a.m. that Saturday saying a man was exhibiting “unusual behavior” and making “unusual statements.”
When officers arrived, they learned an armed man and child were holed up in one of the brick triplex apartments. They summoned health officers, SWAT officers, and hostage negotiators and tried to convince Eagle to come out of the house unarmed.
Police said he came out and went back inside several times, brandishing a handgun and a knife. The last time he walked outside, he brought the child, too, police said.
Fearful of the child’s safety, officers ordered Eagle to drop his weapons and tried to coax the 4-year-old child away from him.
“At some point, the child left the custody of the armed suspect enough to distance that one officer could leave cover, placing himself in a very dangerous situation, to rescue this small child from the armed suspect,” Police chief Fred Fletcher said during a press conference.
When Eagle “moved aggressively toward” the officer and child, multiple officers opened fire, Fletcher has said.
A video of the killing taken by a bystander shows multiple officers surrounding Eagle while nearby observers yell at Eagle to put the gun down. At one point, when Eagle falls to the ground, the person recording the video says, “they shot him.”
Then, several officers moved closer and suddenly open fire – apparently while Eagle is on the ground – shooting rapidly.
The bullets cut through Eagle’s muscle, bone and intestines; his lung, spleen and liver.
After the incident, Pinkston asked the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office to investigate whether the police were justified in the killing.
So far, no one has been charged in the incident.
Contact staff writer Zack Peterson at zpeterson@ timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6347 with story ideas or tips. Follow @zackpeterson918.
CAUTION: Video may be graphic in nature.