By Jim Balloch
Knoxville News-Sentinel
CLINTON, Tenn. — Two people are dead after a chase and shootout with Anderson County authorities Wednesday afternoon, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Authorities initially received a bulletin to look out for a stolen pickup truck with an Indiana license plate that was involved in a gas drive-off theft from an area gas station, said TBI spokeswoman Kristin Helm. An Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputy spotted the vehicle about 1 p.m. and initiated a pursuit when the driver refused to stop.
The truck continued along Raccoon Valley Road, Clinton Highway and onto Blockhouse Valley Road as a second sheriff’s deputy joined the chase. During the pursuit, someone in the truck fired shots at the deputies, said Anderson County Sheriff Paul White. The chase ended near the intersection of Blockhouse Valley Road and Old Emory Road when one of the truck’s tires blew out, Helm said.
A gunfight ensued in a nearby field and both suspects — a male and a female — were shot by the deputies, according to Helm.
The female was shot and killed at the scene, and the male suspect was transported by ambulance to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where he died from gunshot wounds, Helm said.
A weapon was recovered from the pickup truck, she added.
Authorities have not released the names of the suspects.
The two deputies involved have been placed on routine administrative leave with pay pending an investigation, White said. Neither deputy was identified.
Copyright 2012 Knoxville News-Sentinel Co.