Jan 13, 1:30 p.m.: Knoxville Police Department held a press conference around 12:30 p.m. Saturday following the overnight capture of Ronnie Lucas Wilson.
Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch said shortly after midnight on Saturday, members of the U.S. Marshal Smoky Mountain Fugitive Task Force received a tip that that Ronnie Lucas Wilson may have been hiding in a neighborhood in South Blount County. Those task force members along with the Blount County Sheriff's Office went door to door in that neighborhood, looking for the suspect.
Around 3:00 a.m., authorities discovered an abandoned home in the area with evidence of people inside. They tried to make contact with those individuals. After contact was made, Kristin Denise King fled from the home and was later detained. Shortly after, Wilson started a fire inside the house and jumped through a window.
Wilson suffered internal burns to his lungs and is currently being treated. He has been charged with attempted first degree murder of a police murder. He is currently being held on a $750,000 bond. Chief Rausch said additional charges are likely and will be added. King has not been charged at this time.
Chief Rausch said KPD Officer Williams is doing well. They had a conversation this morning as soon as he got word the suspect was in custody.
Below is a look at the full press conference from Saturday afternoon.
Jan 13, 4:45 a.m.: Blount County Sheriff's Office posted more details and photos on Facebook of Wilson's arrest. According to BCSO, officers found Wilson and King in an abandoned home on Calderwood Highway in Blount County. Officers say Wilson is being treated for injuries he received after jumping out of one of the building's windows. King was not injured.
Blount County Fire crews also responded to a fire started in the home.
3:45 a.m.: Knoxville police tweeted that Ronnie Lucas Wilson has been found. Officers say he was located in Blount County and is now in police custody.
PREVIOUS STORY: Knoxville police are asking for the public's help finding a woman who might be with the man police say shot a KPD officer Thursday night.
Police say Kristin Denise King may be in danger. She is believed to be in the company of Ronnie Lucas Wilson.
KPD Seeks Public’s Help In Locating Endangered Female In Company of KPD Ofcr Shooting Suspect. Info developed in the investigation indicates Kristin Denise King may be in danger. If you have info on King's whereabouts, call 865-215-7212 or 911. Info Here: https://t.co/Y58RIeDey4 pic.twitter.com/6HRSWEDs1v
Anyone with information about King's whereabouts is asked to call the KPD crime information line at 865-215-7212 or 911. Callers may remain anonymous.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has added Wilson to its Top 10 Most Wanted list Friday morning. Officials say he shot KPD Officer Jay Williams in front of the Target on Washington Pike in North Knoxville on Thursday night.
Wilson, 31, from Knoxville, was still on the run Friday according to KPD.
TBI is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information that leads to Wilson's capture for attempted first-degree murder of a police officer. People should call 1-800-TBI-FIND if they have information about his whereabouts.
TOP 10 ALERT: Can you help TBI and @Knoxville_PD find this wanted fugitive?
Call 1-800-TBI-FIND!
KPD confirmed earlier Friday morning the car belonging to Wilson had been located in Corryton in a wooded area of a rural area at the intersection of Emory Road and Jim Wolfe Road.
KPD Chief David Rausch said Wilson is known to the department. Police said he could have two weapons and should be considered armed and dangerous. If you see him or his vehicle, you should not try to approach him and instead should call 911.
KPD said if Wilson isn't apprehended by Friday morning, they're considering putting out what is known as a Blue Alert. The alert is designed to spread information quickly to other law enforcement agencies in the 29 states that use the system to speed up the capture of violent criminals who seriously hurt or kill local, state or federal law enforcement officers.
Rausch said Wilson is listed as a member of the Aryan Nations gang, and there is currently an outstanding warrant for his arrest for a violation of probation and aggravated assault.
"Obviously, we are seeking an attempted murder warrant on him as we speak for what he did," Rausch said.
Williams, a 14-year veteran of KPD, was shot once in shoulder and was treated at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. He was released Friday morning and is at home recuperating, according to KPD.
Rausch, speaking outside the hospital late Thursday night, said Williams was in "great spirits" when he was with his family at the hospital.
"At this point he’s ok, he’s stable," Rausch said at the time. "It appears that they’ll be able to treat him hopefully tonight and may be able to get released tonight. He’s gone back for more testing, so we’ll see."
KPD later tweeted Friday morning that Williams had been released from the hospital.
.@Knoxville_PD Officer Jay Williams who was shot during a traffic stop last evening has now been released from the hospital. Thank you for the support & prayers. Suspect, Ronnie Lucas Wilson, is still on the run. Suspect is armed & dangerous. Do not approach - Call 911 pic.twitter.com/Ql71j2vEtm
The shooting happened shortly after 8:30 p.m. when Rausch said Williams attempted to pull Wilson over on Washington Pike for speeding.
Wilson fired one shot from a shotgun while still driving, then stopped his car, got out and "fired continuously at the officer," Rausch said.
Williams did not fire in return, Rausch said.
"The officer got on the radio and gave the code that we have for an officer that has been shot and as soon as that goes out, everybody in the area responds. It was a large response," the chief said.
Rausch said information about the suspect has gone out to law enforcement agencies throughout the region.
If anyone sees Wilson's vehicle, they should call 911 immediately, he said.
"Do not attempt to intervene. Let law enforcement handle this," Rausch said. "If he is going to take a shot at an officer, he’s not going to hesitate to shoot at anyone else. So we ask that folks if you see the vehicle, if you know this individual, then do not intervene. Call law enforcement and let us know where he is."
Public officials and other East Tennessee law enforcement agencies Tweeted messages of support for the officer Thursday night.
Please say a prayer for the @Knoxville_PD officer shot this evening while protecting and serving our community. When you go to work in the morning, remember that "just another day at the office" for those in blue means putting their lives at risk for us.
My thoughts and prayers are with this officer. https://t.co/l9xUgMiSE3
Thoughts and prayers with KPD and the officer’s family. https://t.co/zM0NttZAmK
Prayers for our KPD brother in blue suffering from a gunshot wound after an East Knoxville traffic stop. pic.twitter.com/ptndJScZLy
The suspect has a long record of offenses in Knox County.
According to court records, Wilson was charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture or sell in Feb. 2016.
In 2011, he was sentenced to 3 years in confinement after pleading guilty to an aggravated burglary charge.