COVINGTON, Tenn. (AP) – A suspect was killed and an officer wounded Friday when police made multiple attempts to rescue a woman being held hostage at a Tennessee business, authorities said.
The suspect was shot by a sniper after exchanging fire with officers, Tipton County Sheriff Shannon Beasley told news outlets. He had held a woman hostage at Dean’s Tax Service in Covington overnight before officers decided to go inside, news outlets reported.
The officer and the woman were taken to a hospital to be treated. Both were expected to recover.
Covington police were originally called to the scene around 5 p.m. Thursday for a disturbance, but Interim Police Chief Jack Howell said the situation escalated and multiple law enforcement agencies were called to the scene.
Officers arrived to find a gunman with three hostages, including a young child, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in a statement. Covington police were able to get the child and the child’s mother to safety.