Attorney shot during burglary nearly ran over police just minutes earlier, police say
An attorney who made headlines after being shot when he broke into a Catoosa County home now faces additional charges in East Ridge, Tenn., for an altercation that occurred minutes before he was shot in Rossville.
According to the East Ridge Police Department, 29-year-old Matthew Jack Fitzharris of Chattanooga, Tenn., nearly struck multiple officers with his newly purchased Jaguar around 11 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, at the 4A’s Inn hotel on Ringgold Road. After fleeing the scene, he broke into the Cloud Springs Road residence of a retired Marine, who stopped the crime spree by shooting Fitzharris in the arm.
Fitzharris was arrested by Catoosa County sheriff’s deputies early Wednesday morning, July 13, on two counts of aggravated assault against the elderly, two counts of terroristic threats and acts, two counts of entering an auto, misdemeanor second-degree criminal damage to property, misdemeanor simple assault, and first-degree burglary.
Since his arrest, detectives with the East Ridge Police Department and the Catoosa Sheriff’s Department were able to determine Fitzharris was the suspect involved in the incident on July 12.
“We learned that he (Fitzharris) was the same suspect our officers had pursued on July 12,” said East Ridge detective Josh Creel.
East Ridge officers were arresting an assault suspect, when Fitzharris allegedly drove up in his Jaguar into the hotel parking lot at a high rate of speed and nearly struck the officers, reports show.
Fitzharris then began screaming profanity as officers and bystanders, before speeding off and nearly striking a group of people near a police vehicle.
A few moments later, officers attempted to perform a traffic stop in the 5700 block of Ringgold Road, but Fitzharris only stopped momentarily before speeding off again.
After Fitzharris made it out of East Ridge, officers called off the pursuit per their policy.
Home invasion
Fast-forward approximately 45 minutes and Fitzharris was forcing his way into the carport door of the Hanshaw residence at 1019 Cloud Springs Road in Rossville.
Catoosa County deputies arrived to find Fitzharris sitting in the driver’s seat of his new Jaguar suffering from a single gunshot wound to his upper right arm.
Fitzharris terrorized the elderly couple by cursing at them, throwing things at them, and threatening, reports show.
Fitzharris allegedly threatened that he “was going to (expletive) the couple up,” and even threatened to kill them.
Delbert Hanshaw, 84, a retired Marine suffering from Parkinson’s disease, confronted Fitzharris with a gun.
After firing a warning shot into the ground, Hanshaw shot Fitzharris in the right arm, which incapacitated while waiting on the authorities to arrive.
“Mr. Hanshaw said he had to shoot at Fitzharris because he would not leave and was threatening to harm him and his wife,” deputy Marvin Thompson said. “He said he told him several times
to leave before using force.”
Fitzharris was taken to Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton for treatment before being taken to jail.
According to Fitzharris’ website, he moved to Chattanooga and began his law practice there in the fall of 2013.
In addition to his Catoosa County charges, East Ridge PD submitted warrants for nine counts of reckless endangerment, and one count of evading arrest.
Although he’s still in jail, and a hold has been placed on him out of East Ridge, Tenn., Fitzharris is already being represented by
Ringgold attorney McCracken Poston, who gave a brief comment on the matter.
“This young bright
attorney has suffered a series of apparent psychotic episodes in recent weeks,” Poston said. “He needs evaluation, diagnosis and treatment. I am working with the prosecutor and with the court to see that this happens.”