MONROE COUNTY, Tennessee — A man is in custody after shooting a shotgun at deputies and hitting one in the shoulder, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff Tommy Jones said it happened early Sunday. Deputies and Madisonville Police Department officers were trying to arrest a man, identified as Bradley Keller, on Meadowview Lane accused of making terroristic threats.
When they arrived, a deputy used his loudspeaker -- telling the man to exit the home. The man went outside and then fired a semi-automatic shotgun toward officers, hitting a deputy in the shoulder with shotgun pellets. A deputy returned fire.
The man surrendered shortly after and was taken into custody.
The wounded deputy was taken to the hospital to be treated and was later released.
Jones said the incident is still under investigation.
"We ask the community to keep law enforcement in their prayers," Jones said.
According to the arrest report, Keller made threats to "shoot up" a party. Nine total officers arrived and took cover after receiving information that Keller "could turn violent." He then came out of the front door armed with the shotgun, firing six times in the direction of officers. One of the deputies fired back with his 9mm, firing "what appears to be" 21 times.
Even though Sheriff Jones said a deputy was hit by shotgun pellets, the incident report that was filed on Oct. 30 said "no one was struck by any of the gunfire and there were no reported injuries." The report said a neighbor's house was hit by six of the deputy's bullets.
Keller is charged with attempted homicide of a deputy, making terroristic threats, owning a prohibited weapon, and carrying a firearm as a convicted felon. MCSO said he was a known felon and not allowed to own or possess guns.
On Friday, in Sevier County, warrants said deputies charged Jack Dillon Williams with aggravated assault against first responders, among other charges. The affidavit states deputies were interviewing Williams' wife because she said she had been assaulted by Williams.
He drove by and fired multiple gunshots, causing the deputies to "fear for our safety because of the use of a deadly weapon," the documents said.
The Knoxville Police Department said on Sunday they charged Randy Armes with aggravated assault against first responders. The department said, as officers were interacting with Armes, he put the vehicle in drive and hit one of the officers' cruisers. He nearly hit officers, KPD said.
The FBI said crimes against law enforcement officers increased by nearly 11 percent between 2020 and 2021, and 10.5 percent when those assaults involved weapons.