A Chattanooga Police Department officer responding to a Sunday morning service call involving a suicidal man accidentally discharged his department-issued handgun, with one bullet striking the deceased, a news release states.
The incident in the 4000 block of Oakwood Drive occurred at about 11:35 a.m., according to department communications coordinator Elisa Myzal.
The suicidal party, himself armed with a handgun, refused officers' commands to lower his weapon and shot himself. The officer who unintentionally fired his weapon did so after the man had mortally wounded himself, police said. Two of the officer's shots struck a chair, while one hit the deceased man in a leg, Major Crimes investigators determined.
All officers at the scene were placed on leave per department policy, and an active investigation is continuing, authorities said.