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Ronnie Lucas Wilson, suspect accused of shooting Knoxville Police officer, captured in Blount County

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- A man accused of shooting a Knoxville Police officer Thursday night was captured in Blount County Saturday morning.

"Our concern was that he was going to hurt someone else and fortunately that didn't happen," Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch said.

The Blount County Sheriff's Office said Wilson, accused of attempted first degree murder of a police officer, was found in an abandoned home at the 5500 block of Calderwood Highway in south Blount County.

BCSO's SWAT team, along with Knoxville Police officers and U.S Marshals, took Wilson into custody a short time after 3 a.m. Saturday morning.

The woman KPD said was with Wilson, Kristin Denise King, was also located. She was not injured, and officials said that King is not being charged with anything at this point.

KPD held a press conference on Saturday afternoon to give more details on the investigation. After midnight on Saturday morning, the U.S. Marshal's service got a tip about Wilson hiding in a Blount County neighborhood.

Marshals went door-to-door searching for the suspect, and around 3 a.m., they discovered an abandoned building on Calderwood Highway with people inside.

Wilson jumped out of a window at the residence, according to BCSO. The Blount County Fire Department also extinguished a fire that started at the residence.

Wilson was treated for injuries at UT Medical Center. According to KPD, injuries he sustained were due to potential smoke inhalation and jumping out of a window.

"When he started the fire inside breathing in the smoke has caused damage to his lungs," Rausch said. "The only harm that came to the suspect is what he did to himself and I think that's very important"

Wilson was added to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's Top 10 Most Wanted list Friday morning. Wilson is wanted by the Knoxville Police and the TBI to face a charge of attempted first degree murder of a police officer. A reward of up to $2,500 was offered for information leading to Wilson's arrest.

Authorities responded to 5405 Washington Pike just after 8:30 p.m. Thursday for reports of a shooting near the Target store. KPD reported that Officer Jay Williams, a 14-year veteran of the police force, tried to pull over Wilson on a speeding violation.

Wilson allegedly fired at Officer Williams from his black mid 70s model Chevrolet Nova while it was still in motion then fired several more shots after the car came to a stop. KPD Chief Rausch said Wilson used a shotgun which has been recovered. At this point, police do not know if the weapon was legally owned by Wilson.

Knoxville Police also mentioned that Officer Williams did not return gunfire.

Officer Williams was transported to UT Medical Center to treat a gunshot wound to the shoulder, where he was later released Friday morning. As of Saturday afternoon, officials say that Officer Williams is doing well. KPD said Officer Williams is glad the community is safe from Wilson.

"He was excited," Rausch said. "He was glad that nobody else got hurt and he wanted to share his thanks to the community, and to the law enforcement community to find Mr. Wilson."


According to 911 dispatchers, Wilson's black mid 70s model Chevrolet Nova with a red stripe on the hood and Tennessee license plate with the numbers 7F38D5 was discovered at 8:47 a.m. Friday in Northeast Knoxville off Emory Road at Jim Wolfe Road. According to Knoxville Police, Wilson is a known member of the Aryan Nations gang.