BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. — Arrest records show a man accused of shooting two Blount County deputies is facing 14 charges.
On Tuesday afternoon, deputies responded to 1105 Jacob Springs Blvd for a domestic dispute. After deputies arrived, the suspect was non-compliant which resulted in shots being fired, the Blount County Sheriff's Office said.
According to Blount County Sheriff James Berrong, the deputies lost sight of the suspect, later identified as 59-year-old Ronald Reed Millsaps, in the garage of the home. When Millsaps was next seen, he began to shoot at the deputies.
Berrong also said he estimated Millsaps to have fired around 150-300 rounds, but the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation would be doing its investigation to confirm those numbers.
Millsaps had multiple high-powered rifles and handguns in almost every area of the house, Berrong said.
"We had information he had weapons in every area of the house, and window sills and beside the doors," Berrong said. "He was ready for a battle and that’s what he came to us with.”
The deputies then sought cover behind their vehicles and returned fire while Millsaps retreated back into the home, according to Berrong. He also said both wounded deputies placed their own tourniquets.
Berrong said both Deputy Corbin Smith, 25, and Deputy Edward Walker, 28, were shot in the leg and were transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center. They are in stable condition. Berrong also noted that one of the officers had a 4-week-old child.
"Deputies were able to rescue Deputy Smith and Deputy Walker while taking gunfire from the suspect,” Berrong said.
Berrong said there was an elderly woman within the home at the time of the shooting who was believed to be a bedridden relative. Berrong also said BCSO had responded to the same home on multiple occasions. There were no other injuries within the home after the incident.
According to BCSO, Millsaps is charged with seven counts of aggravated assault, four counts of reckless endangerment, two counts of attempted criminal homicide and one count of especially aggravated kidnapping.
Millsaps is currently held at the Blount County Correctional Facility on a $2.2 million bond, according to BCSO.
Multiple agencies assisted BCSO at the scene including U.S. Marshals, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Knox County Sheriff's Office, the Knoxville Police Department, the Alcoa Police Department also assisted BCSO. In total, at least 15 agencies came to the aid of the department during the shooting.
When asked how BCSO felt after their deputies were shot, Marian O'Briant, with BCSO, said, "It hits hard, this shouldn't be happening but it is happening."
Berrong said this marks four officers being shot in four months, with one of those being fatal.
In February 2024, two Blount County deputies were shot after conducting a traffic stop. One of the deputies, Greg McCowan, was killed after being transported to the hospital. The other deputy, Shelby Eggers, was shot in the leg and taken to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
On Wednesday morning, BCSO provided an update on the deputies. They said Deputy Smith was released from UT Medical Center late Tuesday evening and that Deputy Walker should be released from the hospital sometime Wednesday.
TBI is continuing the investigation.
This story will be updated when more information is available.
