Police Gunfire Ends Threat During Search for Missing Teen in Knoxville [WATCH]

The Knoxville Police Department released body camera footage showing the fatal shooting of a man during the search for an endangered 15-year-old girl at an apartment complex on Tillery Road.

According to KPD, officers were acting on credible information indicating that a missing 15-year-old girl was inside an apartment at North Park Apartments with 46-year-old Angel Melendez.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation had issued an Endangered Child Alert for the girl the day before the shooting.

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Police said warrants charging Melendez with concealing, harboring or hiding a runaway child, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and theft of a firearm had been placed on file prior to the operation.

The body camera footage released by KPD includes video from Sgt. Chris Hutton, Lt. Shawn Shreve, and Officer Terry Crowe. KPD identified Hutton and Shreve as the two officers who fired their weapons during the encounter.

The incident occurred on Jan. 28 at approximately 10:25 a.m. Body camera video shows officers from the Special Operations Squad knocking on the apartment door and announcing themselves for about one minute before entering.

KPD stated officers entered the apartment with the consent of the owner.

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Once inside the residence, officers moved through the apartment and entered a bedroom where Melendez was standing shirtless.

The 15-year-old girl was seated on a mattress on the floor inside the same room.

Officer Crowe entered the bedroom first as officers shouted, “Knoxville Police Department,” and ordered Melendez to put his hands up.

The footage shows Crowe and Melendez becoming involved in a physical struggle.

During the struggle, an officer can be heard shouting, “He has a gun,” according to the body camera audio.

Moments later, Melendez is seen pointing the firearm in the direction of the officers. At that point, Sgt. Hutton and Lt. Shreve fired multiple shots.

Melendez was struck and pronounced dead at the scene.

Throughout the shooting, the 15-year-old girl remained seated on the mattress.

After Melendez was shot, the girl began screaming, and Officer Crowe grabbed her as another officer yelled, “Get her out.”

Body camera footage from Officer Crowe shows the girl striking Crowe in the head with a knife during the moments immediately following the shooting.

KPD said Crowe was not injured during the encounter.

The girl was transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center for evaluation.

Police said she was not injured during the incident.

KPD later confirmed that the girl has been charged with assault.

Following the shooting, Sgt. Hutton and Lt. Shreve were placed on routine administrative leave, consistent with department policy in officer-involved shootings.

The incident remains under investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Knoxville Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards. Authorities have not released further details regarding the status of the investigation or whether additional charges may be filed.

KPD said the release of the body camera footage was intended to provide transparency into the events surrounding the shooting. The department noted that the video contains graphic and distressing content.

“You can watch the body camera video below. Viewer discretion is advised,” KPD stated in its release.

No further information has been provided regarding the condition or placement of the endangered child following the incident.