The father of a Maryville Marine who was killed in a shootout with police
said his son suffered from post traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD.
Police said LCpl. Theodore Jones III broke into an empty
building this week, fired a gun at an officer, and refused to drop his weapon. Officers
said they were then forced shot Jones.
On his Facebook page, Jones' father said his son suffered
another flashback of his combat service as a U.S. Marine and quote "lost his
battle with PTSD."
Life Coach Dave Clinton with Great Smokies Life Coaching
currently works with East Tennesseans who have PTSD. Clinton said military
veterans are more likely to develop the disorder because of what they
experienced while in combat. Patients told Clinton they often go back to those
combat zones in the form of flashbacks and nightmares. Clinton said he tries to
help patients by tackling their fear head-on.
"I ask them to basically relive the event in a safe
environment. The idea is to try and desensitize them to it. If you're scared of
snakes, for example, and you're showed a snake over and over again eventually
you're not going to react so badly," Clinton said.
Clinton said a few signs of PTSD are avoiding activities someone normally enjoyed, becoming violent all of
a sudden, and mood swings.
Maryville Police Chief Tony Crisp said he can't comment on
reports that Jones had PTSD. Chief Crisp also said that's not part of their
investigation.