UPDATE (7/29/25): Stephen Goins is in custody after getting into a gunfight with a McMinn County Sheriff’s Office deputy in Riceville, according to Sheriff Joe Guy.
It happened around 8:30 p.m. Monday, Guy said, when Corporal Nathan Stiles responded to a “shots fired” call he was told about while at the Dollar General store. Guy said that when Stiles arrived on the scene, a home on Highway 11, the suspect began firing at him.
“Corporal Stiles announced several times that he was with the sheriff’s office, but nevertheless, Goins pointed a silver revolver at him and fired at my officer. Corporal Stiles then retreated and fired back at Goins in self-defense as Goins fled into the residence,” Guy said. “Luckily, neither the suspect nor our deputy was struck. Additional officers arrived at the scene as the suspect was taken into custody and the suspect is now at the McMinn County Jail.”
The 44-year-old suspect was charged with attempted first degree murder, resisting arrest and weapons charges.
The shooting is under investigation, Guy said.
Original Story: An investigation is underway and a suspect is in custody after getting into a gunfight with a McMinn County Sheriff’s Office deputy in Riceville.
Sheriff Joe Guy says it happened last night (monday) when the deputy responded to a “shots fired” call. Guy says that when the deputy arrived on the scene, the suspect began firing at them with the deputy returning fire as the suspect retreated into a residence.
Neither the suspect or the deputy were struck.
Additional officers arrived at the scene as the suspect was taken into custody.
