KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A Knoxville Police Department crime scene technician was wounded after someone opened fire while investigators were processing a separate shooting scene late Sunday, police said.
Sequence of events
Officers initially responded at about 11 p.m. Sunday to reports that shots had been fired into an occupied home at the 2300 block of Jones Street. No one was injured in that initial incident, according to the department.
- Shortly after midnight, while the department's Forensics Unit and officers were canvassing the area and gathering evidence, gunfire came from an adjacent wooded area.
- A crime scene technician was struck by gunfire and was quickly removed from the scene and taken to a hospital for treatment. Police say the injuries are not life-threatening.
- Officers searched the nearby woods and located a 35-year-old man hiding in the brush. He surrendered without further incident and was taken into custody.
Arrest and charges
Police identified the suspect as Joey Rudd, 35. Following the preliminary investigation, Rudd was charged with multiple counts related to the shooting.
| Charge | Number of counts |
|---|---|
| Attempted first-degree murder | 4 |
| Using a firearm during the commission of a felony | 4 |
Investigation status and context
The Knoxville Police Department said the case remains under active investigation and that it is in the early stages. Authorities have not released additional details about a possible motive or whether investigators believe the overnight shooting that initially brought officers to the residence and the gunfire that struck the technician were connected beyond proximity.
Police described the incident as occurring while personnel were processing a crime scene, which underscores the risks law enforcement and forensic staff face when working at active scenes. The department said it will provide more information as the investigation progresses.
Community and procedural notes
Officials have not disclosed whether any arrests or warrants are related to the earlier report of gunfire into the occupied home at Jones Street. Prosecutors will review the charges and determine whether any additional filings are appropriate as evidence is developed. The injured technician was hospitalized and is expected to recover, according to the department.
The incident has prompted renewed attention to officer and forensic staff safety during post-shooting investigations. Questions about scene security, perimeter control and whether additional resources were available at the time of the second shooting have not been answered publicly.
The Knoxville Police Department asked anyone with information relevant to the investigation to contact detectives. The department said it will release further updates when more facts are confirmed.
