KNOXVILLE (WATE) -
Knoxville police
have released the identity of the man injured in an officer-involved shooting
Thursday at West Town Mall.
The suspect has
been identified as 30-year-old Abraham Dudley of Knoxville.
Dudley was shot one
time in the lower torso by an officer. His family told 6 News on Friday evening that he was in critical condition and recovering from surgery.
The officer who
shot Dudley was identified as Christopher
Edmunds. Edmunds has been with the department since September 2009.
Edmunds is
currently on administrative leave with pay, which is standard for officers involved in a shooting.
Police were
called to the mall around 5:30 Thursday evening on a report of a man beating a
woman.
"The suspect
said he had a gun and was going to shoot," said KPD spokesperson Darrell
DeBusk.
When they
arrived on the scene, they confronted the man, Dudley. A witness told
6 News that officers told Dudley to get on the ground, but he did not comply. An
officer then shot Dudley.
He was taken to
University of Tennessee Medical Center for his injuries.
A police
spokesperson said investigators have conducted numerous interviews with
witnesses from the scene.
According to
their interviews, witnesses told them the female was running from her attacker
at the time of the incident.
Witnesses also
told police that the suspect was trying to force the woman into the car and that
the suspect indicated he had a weapon and was going to shoot.
The female
victim and the suspect are in a relationship and they are the parents of the
2-year old child that was inside the vehicle at the time of the
incident.
West Town Mall
Manager David Huesser released this statement about the shooting on
Friday:
"Any time an
incident like this occurs, our primary concern is always for the safety of our
customers and store employees. We are grateful for the quick response from the
Knoxville Police Department."
6 News found that
Dudley's girlfriend and he have had problems in
the past. In January, she filed an order of protection against Dudley, who is
the father of her child.
In it, she said
that he cheated on her and threatened her on two different
occasions.
Dudley was also charged with reckless endangerment and vandalism back in
2006.
Abraham Dudley (Source: Knox County Sheriff's Office)
Officer Christopher Edmunds (Source: Knoxville Police)
The scene of the shooting Thursday.
