Sevier News Messenger Sevier County News and Opinion
A reported armed robbery in Sevierville on Friday evening prompted a pursuit by police officers and ended with one suspect dead, two other suspects shot and in custody, and one officer injured.
According to the Sevierville Police Department, they received a 911 call at about 8:55 p.m. on December 18, 2020 from a man who reported that two men and one woman used a handgun and knife to rob him in the parking lot of the River Place shopping center on the Parkway. The victim described the suspect vehicle as a silver Toyota Rav4 with a Florida license plate.
Multiple officers from the Sevierville Police Department responded. Officers located the suspect vehicle near 1260 Parkway, but the suspect refused to stop and fled north on the Parkway. The suspect vehicle then made contact with SPD Officer Morgan Watts’ patrol vehicle, causing the patrol vehicle to strike a concrete bridge barrier near the intersection of Parkway and Forks of the River Parkway. Officer Watts was injured in the crash and transported to LeConte Medical Center, where he was treated and released.
The suspect vehicle continued northbound on the Parkway, pursued by Sevierville Police and Sevier County Sheriff’s Office deputies. The suspect vehicle turned east onto Dolly Parton Parkway, at times traveling east in the westbound lanes of travel. The suspect vehicle turned onto Old Newport Highway and eventually became disabled after turning onto Bluegrass Road. At this point, an officer-involved shooting occurred.
It is normal policy for the Sevierville Police Department, through the office of 4th District Attorney General James Dunn, to request that special agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation lead the investigation of officer-involved shootings.
“As officers were attempting to order the three occupants out of the vehicle, the situation escalated, and for reasons still under investigation, officers fired shots, striking all three individuals,” said TBI’s statement about the preliminary investigation. “The driver of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. The two other occupants were transported to a local hospital for treatment.”
TBI released the identity of the suspect who was killed as 33-year-old Joshua Hoffpauir of Sevierville.
23-year old Mitchell Gagel of Cookeville, Tenn. has been charged with aggravated robbery, especially aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated assault. 28-year old Tiffany Leshay Mynatt of Mascot, Tenn. has been charged with aggravated robbery. No photo was available for Mynatt at the time of publication.
In accordance with Sevierville Police Department policy, the four officers involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave. The officers were identified as Sergeant Justin Armstrong, Officer Mark McNabney, Officer Tyler Hansen and Officer Lance Chandler.
The TBI investigation remains active and ongoing as TBI Agents and Forensic Scientists continue to gather any and all relevant evidence, interviews, and information. Throughout the process, investigative findings will be shared with the District Attorney General for his further review and consideration.
