LENOIR CITY, TN – At approximately 12:30 PM Thursday, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit attempted a traffic stop on a person of interest in an overdose death in the area of Western Avenue. The suspect stopped briefly and pulled a gun on deputies and then fled from the traffic stop. Narcotics Units pursued him with assistance from KCSO’s AirWatch. The pursuit traveled into Loudon County where the driver then wrecked his vehicle on Highway 321 near Parkway Drive in Lenoir City. The driver placed a weapon to his head and deputies from the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office, Knox County Sheriff’s Office and Blount County Sheriff’s Office began negotiations with the driver. The Blount County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team used Less-Lethal rounds in an attempt for the driver to drop his weapon. The driver then sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was transported to the hospital.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating this incident.