KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Knoxville Police Department has identified the involved officer in the police shooting that happened at the Exxon gas station in Fountain City on Wednesday, April 17 as Officer Seth Beeler.
Beeler graduated from the KPD recruit academy in February 2022 and is currently assigned to the Field Operations East District. Per standard protocol, he was been placed on routine, administrative leave, KPD said.
Beeler's personnel file revealed he was placed on leave for five working days beginning on April 17. No other disciplinary actions were noted in the file.
Police initially responded to calls about a man acting aggressively at the Fountain City Exxon on North Broadway. KPD said the man confronted the officer outside the store and was armed with two knives.
According to its preliminary investigation, KPD said the man was shot by a police officer and then taken to a hospital, where he was later declared deceased.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has since identified the man as 41-year-old William Charles McBride Jr.
An Exxon employee said she saw McBride about an hour before authorities said a Knoxville police officer shot him.
"I don't know what the problem was," Anna Moore said. "I sat in my vehicle for a little bit and watched, then I decided to go get gas at Pump 3. The guy was on Pump 6, going crazy."
Moore said this wasn't the first time she saw McBride.
It was a couple of months ago when she saw him roaming the gas station.
"I did buy him food," Moore said. "He was trying to fight demons, or whatever you want to call them. I say he did probably need some help."
This story will be updated when more information is available.