KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) – The Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputy who shot and killed an armed man during a traffic stop in April acted in self-defense and will not face criminal charges, according to District Attorney General Charme Allen.
Allen recently informed the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation that her review of the case found the deputy’s use of deadly force was legally justified under both federal and Tennessee law.
The officer-involved shooting occurred around 2:30 a.m. on April 14 near Clinton Highway and Interstate 275 North.
According to investigators, Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputies had conducted a traffic stop involving a motorcycle. During the encounter, authorities said 33-year-old Shane Bryant was armed with a knife.
Following the investigation, Allen reviewed evidence gathered by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, which conducts independent reviews of officer-involved shootings throughout the state.
In a letter provided to the TBI, Allen concluded that the deputy’s actions were necessary to address an immediate threat.
“Upon review, I conclude that the method, manner and amount of force utilized in this incident amounted to a necessary response to thwart the threat involved,” Allen wrote.
She further stated that the shooting was “constitutionally sound” and consistent with legal standards established by the United States Supreme Court and Tennessee law governing law enforcement use of force.
Following the shooting, Bryant was transported to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
The review by the District Attorney’s Office marks the final step in determining whether criminal charges would be filed against the deputy.
With Allen’s determination that the use of force was justified, the deputy has been cleared of wrongdoing in the incident.
