KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. — Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler had a strong message for the community after arresting two teens suspected in a string of auto thefts that ended with a shooting between a suspect and deputies in the Karns area early Monday morning: "We will defend our lives and the citizens of this community."
KCSO arrested two juvenile suspects Monday after investigating the shooting, and on Tuesday afternoon confirmed those two were the ones involved in the incident.
According to KCSO, deputies responded to a reported car burglary near Volunteer Village on Wexgate Road in the Karns community shortly after midnight. As deputies investigated, the Property Crimes Unit suspected the teens involved may have been related to an ongoing investigation into a string of vehicle thefts and burglaries that began in August.
KCSO said some of the thefts involved a TikTok challenge "where you steal a vehicle, drive it for a day, and then ditch it."
Approximately 12 Kia and Hyundai vehicles were stolen like this, and KCSO said the two were arrested in Karns in the same area where a theft happened on Oct. 13. Spangler said detectives learned the two had tried to steal three vehicles on the night of the shooting on Wexgate Road.
Gabriel Juhasz, a Wexgate neighbor, shared his Blink camera footage with WBIR. In one of the videos, you see someone run in between his cars while gunshots are fired in the background. Another video shows the same person running in the backyard and tripping over a fence. A third video shows deputies pulling up in front of the home while gunshots are fired in the background.
Another Wexgate neighbor said a bullet went through the front window of her home, entering her son's bedroom window. She said it went through some of his hats and a jacket.
KCSO said Monday afternoon that an Air Watch helicopter canvassed the area as detectives follow up on leads in the area.
During the shooting, Spangler said the 17-year-old fired at the deputies. Deputies then shot back, KCSO said. No officers were hurt, and the suspect ran away.
"They fired upon officers last night, so we know that they're armed," said Kimberly Glenn, the Communications Director for the Knox County Sheriff's Office. "And they fired upon officers once officers arrived on the scene where they were attempting to break into a car. So it's always a good idea to lock your cars to keep your homes locked, and to be vigilant and be aware of your surroundings."
KCSO said it later took the 17-year-old and an 18-year-old into custody on the theft charges, later charging them in the shooting incident.
KCSO is not identifying the two yet, saying the 18-year-old was facing charges that happened when he was 17.
The 17-year-old is charged with attempted second-degree murder, illegal handgun possession, possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, and theft of property under $60,000. He is being held at the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center.
The 18-year-old is charged with accessory after the fact and theft of property under $60,000. He is being held at the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility.
The two will appear in court on Nov. 27.
Deputies believe two more suspects were involved in the theft case, saying more charges are forthcoming.
"We're sending a strong message today: We will not tolerate lawlessness, violence against our citizens nor our officers at the Knox County Sheriff's Office. If this is what you have in mind, now is the time to leave Knox County," Spangler said. "If you shoot one of my officers, we will defend their life and the citizens of this community. That's a guarantee."