A Tennessee sheriff’s deputy was shot and killed Wednesday, launching statewide manhunt for the suspect, who authorities say is armed and dangerous.
A Dickson County sheriff’s deputy was killed while responding to a call about a suspicious vehicle, said Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Susan Niland, adding the sheriff’s office lost communication with the officer, but were able to find his body by tracking his vehicle, according to the Tennessean.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation named Steven Wiggins as the suspected shooter. A Blue Alert has been issued in the state and a $7,500 reward for information leading to the suspect’s arrest, officials said.
We’re issuing a Tennessee Blue Alert for Steven Wiggins, the person-of-interest in the shooting death of a Dickson County sheriff’s deputy. He is believed to be armed and dangerous.
Spot him? Call 911! pic.twitter.com/Aj8oxy06hd
— TBI (@TBInvestigation) May 30, 2018
According to the TBI, a Blue Alert is issued when a law enforcement officer is seriously injured or killed in the line of duty.
Josh Devine, TBI spokesman, reportedly said that this is only the second Blue Alert that has been issued since it was created in July 2011.
Your cell phone may have just alerted you to a Tennessee Blue Alert.
It’s similar to an AMBER Alert, but used in cases in which a law enforcement officer has been killed or seriously injured in the line-of-duty.
MORE DETAILS: https://t.co/cBhAwnXcZI
— TBI (@TBInvestigation) May 30, 2018
The officer killed was not identified by officials, but according to the Tennessean, a close family friend tweeted that it was 32-year-old Sgt. Daniel Baker.
