KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — One day after the death of Deputy Tucker Blakely, the Knox County Sheriff's Office said they are "processing what is sure to be the most difficult of our days."
Blakely, a 29-year-old who graduated Knox County Regional Training Academy in 2021, was shot while responding to a domestic situation at a West Knox County home Sunday night.
Blakely responded to the home alongside his colleagues around 11:15 p.m. after receiving a call from "a family in need," according to KCSO.
"They did what they do each and every day, answer the call," KCSO said.
30-year-old Matthew Rose began firing at the deputies for reasons that remain unknown. Deputies fired back and killed Rose. Blakely was shot during the exchange of gunfire and was rushed by AMR to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where he later died as a result of his wounds.
RELATED: KCSO: Deputy shot, killed after responding to domestic situation in West Knox Co., gunman identified
Blakely leaves behind his wife, Katarina, and a 5-year-old son. His brother is Maynardville Mayor Ty Blakely.
The fallen deputy had dreams of being a K9 handler and was recently selected as a candidate for KCSO's K9 Handlers course. Blakely's K9 partner was placed with him only two days before he was shot.
"It is unfortunate that Officer Blakely will never be able to live out that dream," KCSO said. "The life of a servant taken far too soon."
Blakely also served in the United States Army and was an organ donor.
"We are better for having known Tucker. The Knox County Sheriff's Office will remain faithful in honoring his memory," KCSO said.
The sheriff's office remains in the very early stages of answering a lot of questions and is fully cooperating with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. However, their focus remains on caring for the Blakely family and the KCSO family in the coming days.
"We are completely heartbroken," KCSO said. "Our officers and their families need your support now more than ever."
The details and arrangements to honor Blakely will be announced in the upcoming days. On Tuesday, a long line of officers helped escort his body to a Powell funeral home along I-40 and I-75. You can watch that vehicle procession below.
Transformation Church, where Tucker worked on-site during Sunday services, also released a statement. It is available below.
"Officer Tucker was one of our uniformed police officers we had on site during our Sunday services and mid-week youth services. He was always so great to talk with and work with. Tucker had the perfect blend of professional care and personal care making our church feel protected and friendly at the same time. He is a true hero who was always made people feel better. Tucker and I had several conversations about faith and God and the need to be ready leaving me to believe he was a man of faith. Our church community is heartbroken for him and his family and we are here to help and serve in everyday possible."
Several East Tennessee law enforcement agencies, including the Knoxville Police Department, University of Tennessee Police Department and Oak Ridge Police Department joined KCSO in mourning Blakely on Tuesday. KPD officers began wearing mourning bands over their badges in honor of him, saying their thoughts were with his family, friends and KCSO.
KPD has been answering calls for service to help KCSO and Blount County has sent a few people to help with anything they need.
"It hurts every time an officer is killed in the line of duty," said Joseph Manning, the Chief of the Sevierville Police Department. "So we want our officers to know that we support Sheriff Spangler, we support the men and women of the Knox County Sheriff's Office, but we're also here to support our people and also be ready for our community to serve them."
Services will be held for Blakely in the next few days and there will almost certainly be another procession where there will be a lot of law enforcement agencies from all across the state, and even across the country.
Law enforcement agencies will be helping in the next few days. They will set up a command post in Knox County where they can coordinate, especially on the day of the funeral.
"There are men and women out there every day doing a job that could be their last day out there," Manning said. "Support Knox County, but support your local law enforcement officers, because, again, we weren't there, but our officers are hurting, our officers have lost a brother, and they are hurting, like everyone else."