Angel Melendez dies in fatal Knoxville, Tennessee shooting

Angel Melendez dies in fatal Knoxville, Tennessee shooting

Fatal Knoxville, Tennessee shooting death of Angel Melendez – Obituary

Authorities have identified the man who was fatally shot by Knoxville police during an investigation involving an endangered child alert as 46-year-old Angel Melendez. Melendez was pronounced dead at the scene following the encounter on January 28.

According to police, officers were responding to an endangered child investigation at the North Park Apartments on Tillery Road in northwest Knoxville. Law enforcement entered an apartment while searching for a missing 15-year-old girl who had been the subject of a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Endangered Child Alert issued the previous evening.

Once inside the apartment, officers located both Melendez and the missing child and attempted to detain them. Investigators say that during the interaction, Melendez pointed a firearm at officers. Two officers then fired their weapons, striking Melendez multiple times. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and no officers sustained injuries from gunfire.

Police confirmed the missing child was unharmed by the shooting. During the incident, the girl allegedly struck an officer in the head with a large knife. The officer was not injured due to wearing protective headgear. Authorities stated the girl will face an assault charge. Police also noted that Melendez was not related to the child.

The officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave in accordance with department policy as the Office of Professional Standards reviews whether procedures were followed. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is leading the independent investigation into the shooting.