A convicted sex offender from Georgia is dead after an encounter with Tennessee authorities during which he rammed several police cars, several sources have confirmed.
Edward Ahrens was suspected of kidnapping an 11-year-old girl who was the subject of a Tennessee Endangered Child Alert, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). The missing child was identified as Aubriauna Mays.
When Knox County and Catoosa County, Georgia, sheriff’s offices located Ahrens and the missing girl, he failed to comply with authorities.
“An encounter ensued, during which preliminary information indicates Ahrens refused to comply with officer commands to surrender and attempted to hit law enforcement officers with his vehicle,” TBI said. “As a result, at least four officers fired their weapons into the vehicle, striking Ahrens, who subsequently died. The child did not sustain injury in the incident. Three Knox County deputies sustained minor injuries and received medical treatment at the scene.”
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office said the missing girl was located by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office Juvenile Detectives and members of its Technology Crimes Division and Narcotics Unit. The sheriff’s office also credited Catoosa County, Georgia authorities and “other local Tennessee agencies.”
According to WTVC, Ahrens (pictured above) pleaded guilty in 2003 to sexual exploitation of children, four counts of aggravated assault, and two counts of obstruction of justice. He was sentenced to 10 years of probation in that incident.
But in 2008, he was reportedly arrested and charged with nine counts of sexual exploitation of children. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison for that crime, but served only 10.
He was a registered sex offender in Georgia.
As with all officer-involved shootings, TBI is investigating.
“At this time, this investigation remains active and ongoing,” TBI said. “TBI agents are working to independently determine the series of events leading to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews. Throughout the process, investigative findings will be shared with the District Attorney General for her further review and consideration.”
“The TBI acts solely as fact-finders in its cases and does not determine whether the actions of an officer were justified in these types of matters. That decision rests with the District Attorney General requesting TBI’s involvement.”
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on X / Twitter.
