Robbery suspect killed in shooting with Hardin County law enforcement
UPDATE: PRESS RELEASE FROM THE TENNESSEE BUREAU OF INVESITGATION:
(August 5, 2024/3:45p CT): The information in this statement has been updated to reflect additional facts gathered during the ongoing investigation. When the first responding deputy arrived and parked behind Jonathan Schutte’s vehicle, he was immediately fired upon. The deputy returned fire before other deputies arrived at the scene.
At the request of 24th Judicial District Attorney General Neil Thompson, TBI special agents are investigating the circumstances of a Sunday evening officer-involved shooting involving the Hardin County Sheriff’s Department.
Preliminary information indicates that deputies encountered an Alabama robbery suspect, later identified as Jonathan Schutte, in a parking lot in the 4700 block of Highway 128 South in Savannah. When deputies approached the vehicle, Schutte reportedly exited his vehicle and fired his weapon at deputies, resulting in the deputies returning fire, hitting and killing 33-year-old Schutte. No law enforcement officers were hurt in the incident.
Jonathan Schutte was from Ardmore, Alabama.
TBI agents are working to independently determine the series of events leading to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews. Investigative findings will be shared with the district attorney general for his further review and consideration. The TBI acts solely as fact-finders in its cases and does not determine whether an officer’s actions were justified in these types of matters. That decision rests with the district attorney general requesting TBI’s involvement.
The TBI does not identify the officers involved in these incidents and instead refers questions of that nature to the respective department to answer as it sees fit.
EARLIER STORY(08/05/2024):
SAVANNAH, Tenn. — A resident from Alabama has died in a fatal shooting with Hardin County law enforcement.
On Sunday, August 4, officers from the Hardin County Sheriff’s Department were involved in a shooting with an Alabama resident.
According to a press release from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, 33-year-old Jonathan Schutte from Ardmore, Alabama allegedly robbed a Burger King in Alabama and made his way to Savannah, Tennessee.
Schutte was alleged to have worked there prior to the robbery.
Later Sunday night, deputies from Hardin County found Schutte in Wesley’s Chapel United Methodist Church’s parking lot.
According to the press release, Schutte exited the vehicle and began shooting at law enforcement. Hardin County Sheriff’s department began shooting back at Schutte, killing him.
No officers were hurt in this shooting.
The TBI is currently investigating this case to determine what happened prior to the shooting.
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