Chattanooga police release timeline of events leading up to McCallie Avenue shooting

The Chattanooga Police Department has released an updated timeline of events that preceded an early morning shooting incident on June 5 on McCallie Avenue near Mary's Bar & Grill, which left three people dead and 14 injured.

That includes a large fight at 1:42 a.m. on Station Street - home of the city's famous Chattanooga Choo Choo - which drew 22 city patrol cars to the scene.

More than two hours before that incident, police said the department's Adam and Baker units responded to a shooting at 1300 Carter St. at 11:20 p.m. June 4, "which tied up several units on a larger crime scene." Three people were shot in that incident. Adam and Baker are two of three city sectors, each of which have their own radio channel.

"As you can see, resources were exhausting quickly due to a number of events happening immediately before the shooting occurred," the department said in a Friday afternoon news release. "This sequence of events reflects the information which is releasable at this time. This investigation is still ongoing, and additional information is not releasable at this time."

Police provided the timeline after a Chattanooga Beer & Wrecker Board meeting on Thursday, during which employees and the owners of Mary's Bar and Grill provided more details about the events surrounding the shooting. Chattanooga police said on Thursday that they would be releasing additional information after reviewing emergency records.

Management from Mary's Bar & Grill told members of the city's beer board that they were nearing the end of a normal evening on June 5 when a larger crowd of around 200 people showed up on McCallie Avenue, blocking traffic and partying in the streets.

An employee used a cellphone to call the city's non-emergency number at 1:35 a.m. and 1:45 a.m. to ask police to disperse the crowd before trouble could start. The police department did not include those calls in its timeline.

According to the department, security from Mary's called Hamilton County 911 at 2:17 a.m. stating that although they were not experiencing an emergency, but there was a large crowd gathering. They asked a unit to assist with traffic control.

At 2:19 a.m., Hamilton County 911 indicated there were no available units and delayed dispatch until a unit could become available, the department said in the release. Units were assigned to previous calls.

One minute later, an officer from the Real Time Intelligence Unit said on Baker channel that an armed suspect had been seen on Milne Street, which is 1 mile from Mary's Bar & Grill's location at 2125 McCallie Ave. The department said all available Adam and Baker units responded.

At 2:33 a.m., police said, a female caller reported a problem driving through traffic. At 2:35 a.m., the manager of Mary's called and asked for the street to be cleared. At the exact same time, police department units that were looking for the armed person on Milne Street stopped a suspect vehicle near McCallie and Willow.

Two minutes later, at 2:37 a.m., Parkridge Hospital called to report multiple gunshots. While on the phone, victims walked into the hospital. At 2:38 a.m., Hamilton County 911 began receiving numerous calls reporting people shot and injured.

Authorities have so far arrested three men in connection with the case. Two, Rodney Harris, 31, and Garrian King, 28, have both been charged with possession of a firearm by a felon. Another, Alexis Lewis, 36, has been charged with criminal homicide, reckless endangerment and possession of a firearm during the commission or attempt to commit a dangerous felony.

Investigators have said they believe there were multiple shooters.

Because Mary's had been operating with an expired beer license, the beer board opted on Thursday to suspend the business's license for three days, taking place from June 24-26. The owners renewed their beer license on June 10 after being made aware that it had expired.

The fight on Station Street that evening was not the first time violence has been reported in that area.

On Nov. 18, the beer board voted to revoke the license of the Blue Light nightclub, 43 Station St. It was cited for not reporting an altercation, which is required by city code, and for operating a disorderly place. The business, however, was granted a stay, pending another hearing, in Hamilton County Chancery Court.

The full timeline provided by the Chattanooga Police Department is below:

11:20 p.m. on June 4 - Shooting at 1300 Carter St. Adam and Baker units responded to the scene. Three people were shot, which tied up several units on a large crime scene.

1:42 a.m. on June 5 - Large fight on Station Street. Twenty-two cars from the city responded to the scene.

2:17 a.m. - Security from Mary's called into Hamilton County 911 advising it was not an emergency, but there was a large crowd gathering and asked for a unit to assist with traffic control, no disorder at this time.

2:19 a.m. - Hamilton County 911 indicated there were no available units and delayed dispatch until a unit became available. (Units assigned to previous calls.)

2:20 a.m. - Real Time Intelligence Unit officer advised on Baker channel that an armed suspect was observed on Milne Street (1 mile from 2125 McCallie Ave.). All available Adam and Baker units responded.

2:33 a.m. - Female caller reported problem driving through traffic.

2:35 a.m. - Mary's manager called and asked for street to be cleared.

2:35 a.m. - While Chattanooga Police Department Units were looking for the previously mentioned armed suspect, they conducted a felony stop on a suspect vehicle near McCallie and Willow.

2:37 a.m. - Parkridge Hospital called reporting multiple gunshots. While they were on the phone, victims walked into hospital.

2:38 a.m. - Numerous calls to Hamilton County 911 reporting people shot and injured.

Contact David Floyd at dfloyd@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6249. Follow him on Twitter @flavid_doyd.

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