A 29-year-old man is dead after a brief pursuit following a traffic stop led to a fatal shooting by a Hamilton County Sheriff's Office deputy early Monday morning.
The deputy, who has not been identified, tried to stop Tyler Hays around 2 a.m. in the 16000 block of Crestview Drive in Sale Creek. A brief pursuit ensued, and Hays reportedly fled on foot and then "became involved in an altercation" with the deputy, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
"For reasons still under investigation, the situation escalated and resulted in the deputy firing his service weapon, striking Hays, who died at the scene," the TBI said in a news release.
A passenger who was in the vehicle driven by Hays fled the scene in the vehicle, resulting in another pursuit and subsequent capture in neighboring Sequatchie County.
District Attorney General Neal Pinkston asked the TBI to investigate the shooting, which is typical after an officer shoots a member of the public. The TBI will then hand over its findings to Pinkston, and he will decide whether to close the case as a justified shooting or present the case to a grand jury for criminal indictment.
No law enforcement officers were injured in the incident.
The deputy involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave with pay, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.
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