Something Terrible Has Happened Down Home

[Mrs. Venation]

LENOIR CITY - The waiting continued Saturday morning at a Loudon County home where a heavily armed 16-year-old son of a state prosecutor shot a Loudon County deputy to death and then barricaded himself in the house, authorities said.

Deputy Jason Scott, 24, was shot four times with a .30-caliber rifle as he stepped from his car to investigate a report of a domestic disturbance, Loudon County Sheriff Tim Guider said.

The Palmer Drive house where Scott was slain is the home of Frank Harvey, assistant district attorney for Loudon County.

Harvey's son, Michael Harvey, a student at Lenoir City High School, remained barricaded inside the home late Friday night. The youth's mother, Ann Harvey, had called 911 that morning from another home and reported that he had assaulted her with a pipe.

Scott leaves a wife, Joanie, who is expecting their first child "any moment now," Guider said.

Gunfire has been exchanged between the youth and SWAT team officers from several agencies, and four officers who took cover behind a woodpile about 20 yards from the house were slightly injured by flying debris.

A neighbor who asked not to be identified said eight distinct shots were heard at 8:31 a.m., that multiple gunshots were heard again around 9 a.m. and 10:47, and that around 11 a.m., multiple reports from a shotgun could be heard.

Police have fired tear gas into the house, one of about 10 homes in a wooded rural area facing a cove off the main channel of Fort Loudoun Lake, close to the Knox County line.

No shots have come from the house since around 3 p.m., authorities said, but the area remained sealed off late Friday night.

"We are basically in lockdown here," said resident Tom Jester. "They are not letting anyone in or out."

http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/local_news/article/0,1406,KNS_347_2726524,00.html

This is only about 35 - 40 miles from my parents' home. I am certain everyone within hollering distance of Loudon County is grieving over this situation. Please keep these people in your thoughts, and, if you are so inclined, offer prayer for them.

[Lars39]

1. Good grief!

:( Hope it ends peacefully soon.

[Mrs. Venation]

2. This Ended Horribly

The sixteen year old boy was found with a fatal gunshot wound to his head. This whole incident is so sad; I can't wrap my mind around violence.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Oh, those poor families!