UPDATE: Housing Officer Accused of Shooting and Killing 15 Year Old

Here are new details regarding last night's shooting in East Chattanooga from Chatttanooga Police spokesperson Dgt. Jerry Weary:

Thursday, July 02, 2009

The Chattanooga Housing Officer involved in last's night's shooting was responding to sounds of shots fired when he encountered an armed gunman. Lt. Erik Reeves of the Chattanooga Housing Authority's Public Safety Division said that he was on bike patrol around 8:40 PM in Eastlake Courts when he heard shots fired by what sounded like at least two different guns. Lt Reeves said he abandoned his bike to investigate when he came upon two men in a dispute. Upon seeing Reeves, the two suspects attempted to run into a nearby apartment but couldn't gain entry. Lt Reeves said it was at this time that he noticed that one of the suspects had a gun. Reeves said he gave repeated commands to drop the gun but the suspect instead raised his gun causing Reeves to fire at him.

 The suspect, identified as 15-year-old Alonzo O'Kelley Jr., was taken to Erlanger Hospital where he died of a single gunshot wound to the upper
body. Another juvenile was taken into custody immediately after the shooting and is believed to be connected to the initial incident. Investigators with the Chattanooga Police Department obtained information that O'Kelley and another juvenile were involved in a shooting incident in the 2600 block of 4th Avenue with multiple occupants of two vehicles just before Lt Reeves encountered them. Crime scene investigators recovered multiple shell casings believed to have
been fired from the two vehicles and also recovered a gun believed to be O'Kelley's.

 The investigation into both shooting incidents will continue. Information will be released as details are confirmed.

JULY 1, 2009 

UPDATE-A 15 year old is dead and his mother tells a totally different story about what happened than what police are telling us. NewChannel 9's Will Carr talked with the victim's mother, Gloria Duncan, who says her son was shot in the back four times and NOT one time in the chest like police are saying.  Duncan says there was a drive-by shooting near 4th Avenue and her son was there.  She says that's when the Housing Authority officer got out of his vehicle.  Her son, 15-year-old Alonzo O'Kelly, was shot four times in the back. She contends there was a drive-by shooting. That's when the officer got out of his vehicle. She says when Alonzo saw officer he dropped his gun and ran and that's when the Housing Authority officer fired the shots. Duncan says her son was no angel but was not in a gang. She says one of Alonzo's brothers witnessed the entire thing. Another brother showed up shortly thereafter.  Will tells us when he got to Erlanger, it was surrounded by police.

 Chattanooga Police Department Spokesperson Sgt. Jerry Weary confirms one person has been shot in the chest and taken to Erlanger Medical Center in critical condition. She says a Chattanooga Housing Authority officer was on routine patrol when he came up on two men in a "confrontation." She says the officer got out of his vehicle. One of the men in the confrontation had a gun.Sgt. Weary says the officer told the the man "several times" to put the gun down. Wearys says when he didn't, the Housing Authority officer shot the man in the chest. At this point, there isn't much more information. As soon as we get it you'll know it here on newschannel9.com

First on newschannel9.com .. we have confirmed at least one person has been shot on 4th Avenue  and taken to Erlanger Medical Center with a gunshot wound to the chest.  This is confirmed by Chattanooga Police Spokesperson Sgt. Jerry Weary. Our NewsChannel 9 photographer there now says there are at least 14 police cars on the scene. I spoke with a witness who says she heard shots fired and saw two people on the ground. In fact, she tells me when she heard the shots, she got down and didn't move. Right now we're working on more details. As soon as we get them, you know them here on newschannel9.com