Chattanooga police are stationing additional officers in the downtown area after a shooting outside Champy’s that left two people injured.
The extra patrols will be staffed by officers working overtime, department spokesperson Sgt. Victor Miller said in an email.
(READ MORE: Champy’s shooting reportedly injures 2 outside popular Chattanooga restaurant)
“Additional overtime units, additional use of bike patrol, and officers that are bike certified but not on the bike patrol unit will also be used during overtime shifts on bikes and e-bikes,” Miller said.
There will be an increased presence throughout the downtown area, not just around Champy’s on M.L. King Boulevard, according to Miller.
It’s unclear how many additional officers will be downtown because of this effort.
“It could fluctuate by need, resources and intelligence,” Miller said.
The department previously announced extra patrols downtown in the fall after Chattanooga businessman Chris Wright was shot and killed outside Patten Towers in late September.
(READ MORE: Tennessee passes law in honor of Chattanooga businessman Chris Wright)
Those are still in place, Miller said, and are also staffed by officers working overtime.
What happened?
On Thursday, witnesses said two men in the Champy’s parking lot shot many times at a yellow car going through the drive-through.
Two people were shot and went to a hospital with minor injuries, police said at the scene.
At least two bullets entered the restaurant, according to owner Seth Champion. Employees reportedly rushed customers into the back of the restaurant when the shooting began, Champion said. No customers or staff were hurt.
No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting as of Wednesday, Miller said.
Contact Ellen Gerst at egerst@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6319.