KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — On Tuesday, two Blount County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a domestic violence call in Rockford where the suspect, Ronald Millsap, is accused of shooting both in the leg.
Neither deputy had life-threatening injuries, and Millsap is in jail on a $2 million bond. However, BCSO says it was too close for comfort.
Rick Scarbrough is the Executive Director of the University of Tennessee Law Enforcement Innovation Center and spoke about the dangers police face when responding to domestic situations. He said tensions run high and many times, officers don't know whether or not guns are involved.
"Domestic violence calls for law enforcement have been and will always be one of the most dangerous calls these officers can make," Scarbrough said. "Due to the unpredictability of the situation and the contents within the home."
The National Fraternal Order of Police released a report detailing 378 incidents across the U.S. in 2023 where law enforcement officers were shot in the line of duty. Of those, almost 16% were shot responding to a disturbance call, which includes domestic violence disputes.
BCSO said deputies responded to three other domestic violence calls involving Millsap in the past year. Sheriff James Berrong said an elderly woman who was bedridden and related to Millsap was in the home at the time of the alleged shooting.
YWCA Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley, a nonprofit that helps women in crisis and advocates for justice, said it has seen a concerning trend among situations of domestic violence involving guns and elder abuse.
"We are seeing more guns and weapons being involved in acts of domestic violence," said Jessie Baer, a victim advocate with the YWCA. "When you use your hands, when you use your feet, when you use blunt objects — that can do damage, but it takes a lot more force. All it takes is a gentle pull of that trigger, and it is immediately fired and hitting an object before you can blink."
The YWCA helps victims who are struggling with domestic violence situations obtain orders of protection against their abusers. Part of that order of protection includes an order from a judge to get rid of their guns.
"This form tells them that you need to take your guns and get them out of your possession," Baer said. "There's nobody that's checking up on this. There's nobody that goes into the home to follow up that says, 'Oh, they did what they said. They got rid of those guns, and those are in a safe place.'"
Where to get help
There are several resources available to anyone struggling, including right here in East Tennessee with the YWCA.
Here is their 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline: (865) 523-6126.
For families experiencing domestic violence where an abuser might have a gun, Baer says a safety plan is important. Learn more here.
Here's a list of ways to support people experiencing domestic violence.