A Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputy shot and killed a man Sunday morning outside a business on Clinton Highway, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating. The TBI identified the man as Caleb Barber.
Deputies responded just before 7:30 a.m. to the 7500 block of Clinton Highway after 911 callers reported a man in the parking lot who had a gun and was acting erratically, according to the TBI’s preliminary information.
A deputy made contact with the man when he arrived. The TBI said the situation escalated “for reasons still under investigation,” and the deputy fired shots and hit the man. Barber died at the scene. No deputies were hurt.
Investigation requested by district attorney
6th Judicial District Attorney General Charme Allen asked the TBI to look into the circumstances that led to the shooting. Agents are collecting evidence and conducting interviews to determine independently what happened.
The TBI will share its findings with Allen for her review. The agency said it acts only as a fact-finder in these cases and does not decide whether an officer’s actions were justified. That decision belongs to the district attorney general who requested the investigation.
Deputy not identified
The TBI does not name officers involved in these incidents. It refers those questions to the officer’s department.
The TBI said it will post updates at TBINewsroom.com. Readers can find more coverage under our shooting topic page.
