According to the testimony of a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) agent, more than 220 rounds were fired during a June shootout between two Blount County Sheriff’s deputies and a man who was involved in a domestic dispute at his home.
During a preliminary hearing for Ronald Millsaps, who was charged with aggravated assault, attempted criminal homicide, especially aggravated kidnapping and reckless endangerment after the shootout, a TBI agent revealed a bit about the aftermath of the shootout.
“A TBI agent testified Tuesday and said officers found more than 220 spent shells,” according to WBIR, which was in the courtroom during the hearing. “According to the TBI, officers found two semi-automatic pistols, a 12-gauge shotgun and an AR-15-style rifle in the house.”
The agent also said that Millsap’s blood alcohol level was higher than the legal driving limit during the shootout. Family members who witnessed the event testified that they believed he had been drinking before the shootout, too.
Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong released bodycam footage in the wake of the shooting.
“I am doing so to ensure that my agency is transparent and open about the events that led up to this attack on these deputies,” he said at the time. “I am grateful that Deputy Smith and Deputy Walker were not injured more seriously, and they are here with us today and recovering from their injuries. It is by the grace of God that they are with us today. I, as well as the men and women of the Blount County Sheriff’s Office remain committed to ensuring the suspect is swiftly, justly, and lawfully convicted of the crimes depicted here.”
It shows the two deputies, Corbin Smith and Edward Walker, taking heavy fire inside a residence. Both deputies were shot during the incident but have since recovered. They testified in the preliminary hearing, too.
Both deputies continued to pursue Millsaps (pictured above) after sustaining gunfire and remained engaged in the firefight until Millsaps was arrested.
At the time of the shootout, Millsaps had active warrants for one count of aggravated domestic assault, two counts of attempted criminal homicide, six counts of aggravated assault, four counts of reckless endangerment, and one count of especially aggravated kidnapping.
He is held in the Blount County Jail on a $2.2 million bond.
The case has been turned over to a Blount County grand jury, which will decide what charges Millsaps will face.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on X/Twitter.
