GATLINBURG (WATE) - Officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations say one man is dead after a Friday night standoff with Gatlinburg police.
Michael Dewayne Choate, 32, was shot when police found him outside of his home on Maples Road holding a gun.
According to a TBI release, Choate's mother notified police when after Choate removed a pistol from his gun safe and stepped outside.
The Choate family told 6 News their son had a history of mental illness and was not taking his medication at the time of the shooting. His mother said she called 911 because she was worried he was going to kill himself. She never thought it would end like this.
Charlie Varano lives across the street and has know the Choate family for two years.
"I only knew Michael a little bit, I'd see him walking around and he was always friendly, he was friendly to everyone, but other times id see him he'd be in a daze," said Varano.
Varano helped the Choate family patch up some of the bullet holes in their home. He said there were half a dozen. He said they are having a hard time dealing but knew there was a chance something like this could happen.
"They didn't know which way to turn, they didn't think it would happen this way, didn't want it to happen this way. But they also knew he had issues," said Varano.
TBI said they were notified about the shooting around 7 p.m. and it appears there were three officers involved. They said they are still investigating what happened leading up to the shooting.
Gatlinburg Police Department did not comment on the shooting because it remains under investigation.
No officers were hurt according to early reports.
The Sevier County District Attorneys office is currently reviewing the case.
