Update on Friday, Aug. 26, 2016: The Maryville Police Department on Friday morning released the name of the officer shot and killed by a suspect while answering a domestic violence call.
Kenny Moats, 32, of Maryville died Thursday from a single bullet wound to the neck, just above his bullet-proof vest, according to a release from the city of Maryville.
Authorities pronounced Moats dead at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.
Maryville Police Chief Tony Crisp is scheduled to hold a news conference on Moats at noon Friday.
Plans for a prayer vigil for Moats have now changed.
Instead of an event being held 5-7 p.m. Friday at East Maryville Baptist Church, participants are being asked to take part in an 8 p.m. Friday candlelight service at the Blount County Courthouse.
Moats worked for the Maryville Police Department since February 2007.
The police department assigned Moats to the Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force as a drug enforcement agent in May 2016.
Previously, Moats served as motor officer for the Maryville Police Department.
Prior to Moats’ time with the Maryville Police Department, he graduated from Heritage High School in 2002, and graduated from Walters State Police Academy in December 2005.
Blount County deputies are still on the scene processing evidence.
Every sheriff and chief from the East Tennessee region has reached out to the Blount County Sheriff’s Office asking how they can help.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Knoxville Police Department, Loudon County Sheriff’s Office, Lenoir City Police Department, Anderson County Sheriff’s Office and Clinton Police Department are all helping with shifts.
Moats served as the president of the Fraternal Order of Police - Bud Allison Memorial Lodge No. 9.
Crisp said Moats’ career was “stellar.”
“We are humbled by the outpouring of love and support from the community and beyond. We will forever be grateful for the care our community has shown the family of Officer Moats and the law enforcement community,” Crisp said. “We know this tragedy will bring our community closer together and that will be a lasting legacy of Officer Moats. We just ask that our community continue to pray for the family of Officer Moats and for the men and women in uniform as we go through this trying time.”
The Maryville Daily Times newspaper recognized Moats as a Readers’ Choice Police Officer in 2011, according to Crisp.
KenJo Markets established a memorial fund for Moats, according to the city of Maryville's website.
Anyone who wishes to contribute to the fund can drop off donations at CBBC Bank or the city of Maryville. The city asks to make checks payable to the Kenny Moats Memorial Fund.
UPDATE on Thursday night: A prayer vigil will be held 5-7 p.m. Friday at East Maryville Baptist Church for the family of the Maryville Police Department officer killed Thursday by a suspect while answering a domestic violence call.
The church is at 1150 Brown School Road.
Participants are welcome to come by at any time within the two-hour time period.
A candle light service is scheduled at 8 p.m. Friday at the Blount County Courthouse.
10 P.M. THURSDAY UPDATE: The Blount County Sheriff's Office has identified the suspect in the shooting death of a Maryville Police Department officer as Brian Keith Stalans, 44, of Maryville.
Stalans was taken into custody Thursday afternoon. He is being held pending charges that will likely be filed on Friday, the Sheriff's Office said.
Shortly before 4 p.m., a deputy and the police officer, both of whom were assigned to the Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force, were in the Alcoa Trail area when a call went out about a nearby disturbance.
According to the Sheriff's Office, about 70 yards behind the house from which the call came.
They spoke with Stalans' father, the person who appeared to be the victim in the disturbance, according to the Sheriff's Office. They moved him to a "safe area."
They got behind their vehicle and waited for help, according to the Sheriff's Office.
"As they were taking cover, Stalans opened fire on them from his father's garage, striking the Maryville police officer in the neck," according to the Sheriff's Office.
Both officers were wearing protective vests. The deputy and another deputy who arrived fired at Stalans and he was taken into custody.
Earlier Thursday, about 10:45 a.m., deputies were sent to the neighborhood about an incident between Stalans and his father.
"At the time, deputies did not have probable cause to arrest Brian Stalans," according to the Sheriff's Office.
Stalans has an order of protection against him issued out of Sullivan County.
The two deputies involved in the shooting are on paid, administrative leave, which is routine.
7:30 P.M, THURSDAY UPDATE: A Maryville Police Department officer has died after being shot at an address southwest of Pellissippi Parkway Thursday, according to Maryville Police Chief Tony Crisp.
A suspect is in custody, Crisp said.
Authorities previously had said the man was a Blount County deputy. That was incorrect.
Crisp, joined by Blount County Sheriff Jim Berrong, made the announcement from University of Tennessee Medical Center where the officer was taken.
The officer's name was not released.
Berrong said the sheriff's office had responded to the address earlier in the day for a domestic violence call. There was not enough probable cause to take a suspect into custody at that time, he said.
Officials received another call later Thursday afternoon related to a domestic violence situation involving a gun at the same address, Berrong said.
Two narcotics officers, one a Blount County Sheriff's Deputy and the other a Maryville Police Officer, who were doing a narcotics investigation in the area responded, Crisp said.
The officers were members of the 5th Judicial Drug Task Force.
When the officers got out of their vehicle, the suspect came out of the house with a gun and started shooting, Crisp said.
"Unfortunately, we have an officer who was a Maryville Police Officer who was shot and killed," he said.
Crisp said the Blount County Sheriff's Deputy returned fire, but did not strike the suspect. The suspect was taken into custody and is being held at the Blount County Sheriff's Office.
"We would ask our citizens to remember this officer's family," Crisp said. "He has three small children. It's a very trying time for his family. It's a trying time for the men and women of the Maryville Police Department. It's a trying time for the law enforcement of this community."
"It's a sad day for our city," Crisp said.
Crisp said the officer had been with the Maryville Police Department for "several" years, and was recently assigned to the narcotics unit.
More information is expected to be released later Thursday.
This is the fourth Maryville Police Department officer to be killed in the line of duty, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page. The first was killed on Aug. 25, 1911, exactly 105 years ago.
PREVIOUS STORY: A Maryville police officer was undergoing treatment Thursday afternoon at University of Tennessee Medical Center after being shot at an address southwest of Pellissippi Parkway.
A suspect was in custody, according to Blount County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Marian O'Briant.
O'Briant said the officer was a narcotics officer.
The man's family members and Sheriff Jim Berrong arrived at the hospital shortly before 6 p.m.
The severity of the officer's injuries and the circumstances that led to the shooting have not been released.
A Blount County deputy was shot Thursday afternoon in a neighborhood off Alcoa Trail west of Pellissippi Parkway. Authorities blocked travel on Alcoa Trail leading to the shooting scene on Kerrway Lane.
The incident occurred about 4 p.m. outdoors on Kerrway Lane near the end of Pellissippi Parkway.
Knoxville Police Department officers escorted the ambulance carrying the officer up Alcoa Highway to expedite the trip to UT Medical Center.
Kerrway Lane is off Alcoa Trail, which is west of Pellissippi Parkway. The area includes homes and barns on rolling streets. Residents stood outside along Alcoa Trail looking on as deputies worked the scene.
Authorities were posted on Alcoa Trail, blocking access to Kerrway Lane.
WBIR will have more information as it becomes available.