2 Blount County deputies injured after shooting on Old Knoxville Highway in Rockford

Maryville, Tennessee – Earlier today, deputies with the Blount County Sheriff’s Office responded to a welfare check and possible domestic at a residence on Jacob Springs Boulevard in Rockford.

When Deputy Corbin Smith and Deputy Edward Walker arrived on the scene at 3:19 pm, the offender walked out the garage door. Deputies briefly lost sight of him before he reappeared and engaged them with gunfire.

The deputies sought cover behind their vehicles, and it was during this time we believe the two deputies were struck by gunfire. The deputies were taken to U.T. Medical Center for treatment. Both deputies are in stable condition.

Responding deputies returned gunfire at the offender, and he retreated inside the residence. Additional units, including the Sheriff’s Office SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics Team), as well as multiple law enforcement agencies from the area, responded to assist.

Deputies were able to rescue Deputy Smith and Deputy Walker while taking gunfire from the suspect.

After receiving information that the suspect threatened to shoot an elderly female victim inside the home, members of the Sheriff’s SWAT team entered the residence and took the suspect, Ronald Reed Millsaps, age 59, into custody shortly after 5 pm without incident.

Millsaps is currently in the Blount County Correctional Facility and faces several felony charges.

The woman who was inside the residence was not injured, but she was transported by AMR Ambulance Service to an area hospital for observation.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating the incident, which is ongoing.

Original Report:

Sources report that multiple officers are injured in Blount County. Numerous agencies have responded to a shooting incident on Old Knoxville Highway in Blount County.

Sources informed Channel 3 NOW that at least two Blount County officers were shot. They were both transported to UT in patrol cars.

LifeStar has landed at Rockford Elementary to airlift the suspect. EMS is staged outside the neighborhood as gunfire continues.

The roadway is closed to traffic for an unknown duration, so please find an alternate route.

Currently, officials have not released much information. However, deputies at the scene confirmed that the incident is not connected to the nearby Rockford Elementary School.

Residents in the Jacob Springs area are advised to stay inside their homes.

This is a developing story that will be updated when more information is available.