UPDATE: Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019
Knox County District Attorney Charme Allen said she has concluded the Knoxville Police officer that shot and subsequently killed a woman armed with a knife in November was justified in the shooting as a means of self-defense after she charged at him with a knife.
The report sent to Knox County Sheriff's Office said Officer James Gadd's actions in shooting the suspect, Sierra McCauley, were both 'subjectively and objectively justified' and that the DA would be closing the investigation as a justifiable homicide.
"I further 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.
Allen's office had been given a case file containing in-car camera footage from both the initial and responding officers, saying it gave enough detail to understand the incident and made the review 'relatively straightforward.
At the time of the incident, KPD said officers were called to the intersection of Haywood Avenue and Compton Street after a woman called dispatch saying she was inside a home and attempting suicide by cutting herself.
A second call from a neighbor said the female suspect was outside without clothes on and cutting herself, police said. A third caller reportedly said the female suspect was cutting another person.
The calls also stated the woman had doused herself with lighter fluid and was attempting to set herself on fire. People had been pleading with the suspect to try and prevent her from harming herself.
When two officers arrived on the scene, investigators said the female suspect was armed with a military-style knife. KPD spokesperson Darrell DeBusk said the situation between officers and the suspect escalated, and an officer fired 'in defense of his life.'
The DA's report said Gadd and the other officer had confronted her, demanding that she drop the knife numerous times -- which was later described as U.S. Marine KA-Bar brand rigid combat knife with a 7" blade.
McCauley then raised the knife in front of multiple witnesses and charged at officer Gadd. One witnessed claimed the suspect had 'lunged' at him. Gadd then shot at her once in her abdomen -- and the bullet subsequently lodged in her spine and caused her death.
The report said recorded dispatch logs revealed the officers were dealing with a 'highly volatile' situation that they tried to diffuse non-lethally, including trying to get close enough to the suspect to use a taser.
One of the officers had tried to corral and reason with the suspect to no avail, and when he asked the suspect to drop the knife -- the suspect told him that she 'wanted to die.'
Gadd had given several loud verbal commands to drop the knife and to not approach him -- and shortly before the shooting had been 'back-pedaling' and issuing commands with his weapon drawn in an effort to keep distance.
Despite the commands, the report said the suspect eventually had gotten within 4 feet of him with the knife raised when Gadd fired his weapon.
"The shooting was justified as self-defense, and the homicide investigation should be closed," the report concluded.
Gadd, a 23-year veteran with the Knoxville Police Department, was placed on administrative leave as a standard operating procedure pending the investigation.
UPDATE: Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018
A 23-year-old woman has died after being shot at by a Knoxville Police officer Monday after she reportedly threatened officers with a military-style knife.
The suspect, Sierra McCauley, age 23, was transported to UT Medical Center for treatment where she later died as a result of her injuries. The medical examiner will perform an autopsy, according to the Knox County Sheriff's Office.
The Knox County Sheriff's Office originally said McCauley was 49 years old and misspelled her last name as McCouley on Tuesday.
Officer James Gadd, a 23-year veteran with The Knoxville Police Department, was not injured and as a standard operating procedure has been placed on administrative leave. Gadd has been recognized by the city multiple times as Officer of the Month in recent years.
The Knox County Sheriff's Office was on scene Monday and their investigation is ongoing.
ORIGINAL STORY: Monday, Nov. 26, 2018
A naked woman who reportedly threatened officers with a military-style knife was injured after a Knoxville Police officer fired at her 'in defense of his life' Monday afternoon, according to KPD.
Around 1:18 p.m. Monday, KPD said officers were called to the intersection of Haywood Avenue and Compton Street after a woman called dispatch saying she was inside a home and attempting suicide by cutting herself.
A second call from a neighbor said the female suspect was outside without clothes on and cutting herself, police said. A third caller reportedly said the female suspect was cutting another person.
When two officers arrived on the scene, investigators said the female suspect was armed with a military-style knife. KPD spokesperson Darrell DeBusk said the situation between officers and the suspect escalated, and an officer fired 'in defense of his life.'
The woman was transported to the hospital but there's no word on her condition at the time.
The officer, who was said to be 'OK', was placed on administrative leave per standard protocol.
Another person who was allegedly hurt by the female suspect was also transported with injuries that weren't life-threatening, KPD said.
The Knox County Sheriff's Office has taken over the investigation.
Many of our viewers were questioning what a military-style knife was. A spokesperson for KPD explained that it was fixed-blade weapon like the KA-BAR, which was designed for use by U.S. troops during World War II.
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