Holly MatkinErin, TN – A murder suspect accused of shooting an Erin police officer during a traffic stop on Monday night was captured alive early Wednesday morning after a massive manhunt.
BJ Brown, 32, was wanted for the second-degree murder of a woman in New Orleans, Louisiana, when an Erin police officer pulled him over on Highway 49 near Substation Loop at approximately 9 p.m. on June 27, WKRN reported.
According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), Brown pulled his burgundy sedan into a parking area near the 300-block of Highway 149 and immediately got out of the car, WTVF reported.
When the Erin police officer told him to get back into his vehicle, the suspect allegedly opened fire on the patrol car, wounding the officer, the TBI said.
Brown then took off on foot into a wooded area, still carrying his gun, according to police.
The wounded officer was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries and was listed in stable condition, WTVF reported.
Law enforcement officers from multiple jurisdictions converged on the area to search for the gunman.
HAPPENING NOW: The search for shooting suspect BJ Brown continues this morning. Brown is wanted by the Erin Police Department and TBI for Attempted First Degree Murder of a law enforcement officer.
Brown is also wanted for second-degree murder in Louisiana. @WKRN #GMN pic.twitter.com/KuxYiVDpy1— Madison Glassman (@MadisonG_TV) June 29, 2022
The TBI, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) also responded.
At one point, Erin Police Chief Mark Moore told reporters the suspect might have ditched his shoes, WTVF reported.
“We’re not sure if he’s barefoot at this point; I know that he was,” Chief Moore said. “Contact was made at some point throughout this morning and some of his belongings were located in a shed, including some shoes that he had previously had on.”
“Make no mistake – this was an ambush on an officer, and rest assured we will not rest until he’s captured and justice is served whether by jury or Jesus, and that’s his choice,” the chief added.
BJ Brown, the subject of the Blue Alert in Erin, has been taken into custody. pic.twitter.com/edM3E103V1
— Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (@TBInvestigation) June 29, 2022
Officers and agents from multiple law enforcement agencies went door-to-door in the area of the search to ensure residents’ safety, Houston County Sheriff Kevin Sugg told WTVF.
“The residents of Houston County have been very cooperative in doing that,” Sheriff Sugg added. “We’re mighty blessed to have these agencies all come together and help us in this time of crisis.”
Residents also provided weary officers with water and food as they worked in the sweltering heat, WTVF reported.
“The guys on the ground and girls on the ground, they’re getting burnt out,” Sheriff Sugg said. “It’s been hot, and when you get in the woods it’s even worse, and some of our tac guys have really took a beat today — and our dogs as well — but we’re not gonna stop. We’re gonna continue on this search and we’re gonna succeed and we’re gonna find him. We’re going to do the job and do it well.”
The TBI issued a Blue Alert for Brown on Tuesday evening, WTVF reported.
By then, he was also wanted for attempted first-degree murder of a police officer as well as the pending murder case in Louisiana.
Police apprehended Brown in a heavily-wooded area north of Highway 13 early Wednesday morning after receiving a tip he was spotted there early Tuesday, WKRN reported.
BREAKING: Suspect BJ Brown is now in custody after being accused of shooting a police officer in Erin, TN. @WKRN pic.twitter.com/kES2rGXUZO
— Nickelle Smith (@NickelleReports) June 29, 2022
“Words cannot express the gratitude we feel this morning for all of the support from surrounding agencies, our community and especially our own City of Erin Department!” Erin city officials said after his arrest, according to WKRN. “We are thankful to each and every one! No other details will be released at this time.”
