Man shot by law officers was Iraq War veteran, 2004 Maryville High School graduate
By Iva Butler | (ivab@thedailytimes.com) and Buzz Trexler | (buzz@thedailytimes.com)
© 2013 The Daily Times
In early 2006, PFC Theodore
“T.J.” Jones IV came home from Camp Gannon in Husaybah, Iraq.
Serving
with the II Military Expedition Force, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, he and fellow Marines
returned to Camp Lejeune, N.C,, after taking part in Steel Curtain, Iron Fist and other coalition
operations.
But Jones, the son of Theodore “Theo” Jones III and Vickie
Jones of Maryville, didn’t come through totally
unscathed.
According to a Daily Times item announcing his homecoming, Jones
“received minor injuries from an IED blast” during his service in Iraq. The announcement goes on
to say, “Following a brief vacation with family he will return to Maryville during the afternoon
of April 6. Friends and family are welcome to call or come by his family home on Fifth Street. He
is scheduled to re-deploy in early 2007.”
Early Thursday morning, Jones
was shot by police and later died at University of Tennessee Medical
Center.
The Iraq War veteran, a 2004 graduate of Maryville High School, was
within a block of the family
home.
His father posted this
on Facebook today:
“Today, I feel great pain. My beloved son, Theodore
“TJ” Jones IV, last night suffered another flash back to his combat service as a US Marine. He has
lost the battle with PTSD. This morning, he sits within sight of Creator and Jesus. He now smokes
the Pipe with other warriors who fought to defend their beliefs. Thanks for your prayers and
thoughts.”
Late this morning, Stephanie Kirk, of Maryville, contacted The
Daily Times and identified herself as the man’s sister, identifying him as Lance Cpl. Theodore Jones
IV. She released the following statement: “On behalf of the family, we would appreciate your
thoughts and prayers at this time. We would also appreciate your respecting our privacy while we
deal with the loss and notify family.”
Theodore Jones IV and Angel Jones
were parents to Jordyn Marie Jones.
WHAT
HAPPENED?
Maryville Police Chief Tony Crisp told The Daily Times that
police received a call at 2:39 a.m. reporting shots being fired in the area of Jett Road off East
Broadway Avenue.
A second call came in immediately afterward from a
driver saying he was shot at by a subject near Lowe’s Drug and Helen Ross McNabb Center on East
Broadway Avenue. The driver said three shots had been fired at his vehicle. Crisp said further
investigation revealed the car had been struck three times.
Officers
shifted the search area to between Fifth and Sixth streets on East
Broadway.
An officer driving east on East Broadway was fired upon and
then police established a perimeter of the area and attempted to locate the shooter. The suspect
was observed carrying a pistol at 1811 E. Broadway Ave. and was seen forcibly entering a former
flower shop at that location.
“While in the building he shot at
officers through a side window. He later exited the front of the building with a firearm and then
retreated back into the building,” Crisp said. “Once again he entered out the front of the
building into East Broadway with a firearm.
“The man ignored officers
verbal commands to drop his weapon,” the Maryville police chief said. “He was a threat to the
safety of the officers and Maryville Police Department (officers) and one Blount County deputy
shot the perpetrator.”
Crisp said Jones was transported to
University of Tennessee Medical Center where he died as a result of his
injuries.
During this afternoon’s press conference, Crisp said the two
Maryville officers had been placed on administrative leave, as is standard
procedure.
Blount County Sheriff’s Office Public Information
Officer Marian O’Briant said the Blount County deputy has also been placed on administrative
leave.
None of the officers has been identified.
For more on this story, pick up a copy of Friday’s print edition of
The Daily Times,
