Knoxville police officer shot several times

Knoxville police officer shot several times

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- Police are questioning eight people Tuesday night in connection to the shooting of Officer Norman Rickman, who was hit multiple times while responding to a burglar alarm call in Northwest Knoxville.

Three of the suspects, all men, were detained on Cougar Drive, which is near the shooting scene on Rockbridge Lane. No arrests have been made and police are still searching for suspects.

Police say they believe the shooting suspects may have been driving two vehicles, a newer model black pickup truck and a four-door silver sedan, possibly a Chevy Cavalier. 

Rickman, 45, who was also shot while on duty in 2001, underwent surgery at UT Medical Center. He is in critical condition.

Officials say some of the rounds hit Officer Rickman in the chest.

Officials say Rickman wasn't wearing a bullet proof vest, by his choice, when he was shot. He also wasn't wearing one when he was shot in 2001.

He was conscious when his ambulance arrived at the hospital.

The first ambulance involved in transporting him overheated on I-640. Officer Rickman was transferred to another ambulance, which got him to the hospital.

The shooting happened when Rickman responded to a burglar alarm call at a home on Rockbridge Lane, a dead end street off Trousdale Road in Northwest Knoxville.

Officials say Rickman saw two or three suspects climbing out a back window. One of the suspects opened fire on him. 

Rickman hit his panic button, drawing an immediate response from other police. Nearby residents also called 911 to report the shooting.

A nurse who lives in the neighborhood helped Officer Rickman until emergency responders arrived.

Rickman was shot in July 2001, when he pulled over a suspect, Larry Lambert, for a brake light violation on Papermill Drive.

Lambert scuffled with Rickman before pulling a gun and shooting Rickman. Lambert then shot and killed himself.

In an interview in December 2001, Rickman told 6 News, "No day is normal anymore for me. Every day, you have to take every day that may be your last one. You just try to enjoy it and live it to the fullest."

Officer Rickman was awarded the police department's Purple Heart award after that shooting.

Rickman was also involved in the October 2006 shooting of a suspect, Robert Winton, who was accused of trying to run over him and another officer. He wasn't injured in that incident.

Rickman is a past president of the Tennessee Police Benevolent Association, and helped set up a memorial fund for Joni Scott, the widow of Loudon County Deputy Jason Scott, who was shot to death in the line of duty in 2004.

On Tuesday afternoon, administrators at Ridgedale Alternative School delayed the release of students by about 10 minutes after Rickman's shooting for safety reasons. Officials say no schools were put in lockdown.

Officials say Rickman lost a lot of blood and anyone who wants to help can donate blood at Medic Regional Blood Bank on Ailor Avenue. You can designate your donation for Officer Rickman.

UT Medical Center isn't handling the blood donations.