Suspect in police officer shooting found, killed in gun battle Monday
The man police believe shot an East Ridge officer during a traffic stop Sunday was shot and killed in a shootout with law enforcement agents Monday morning.
Christopher J. Kitts, 43, was found in the Rossville, Georgia, area Monday by multiple law enforcement agencies after a lengthy search. When he was found, Kitts engaged officers with gunfire and was shot. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Sunday at about 1:50 p.m., Kitts was pulled over in the parking lot of the CVS pharmacy on Ringgold Road.
East Ridge Chief of Police Stan Allen said Kitts jumped out of a red Dodge Challenger with white stripes, fired several shots at the patrol car before the officer, identified as Corp. Terry Prescott, could get out of it. Kitts then took off in the Challenger.
The Challenger was found in the Lynnwood subdivision off Paige Road in Rossville at about 3 p.m., authorities said. Officers from multiple Georgia and Tennessee agencies then started to search for the suspect.
According to a news release from Catoosa County Sheriff Gary Sisk, a K-9 unit tracked Kitts into a wooded area near Old Lakeview Drive and Black Branch Creek, where he began shooting at pursuing officers with a high-powered rifle.
No one was hit during the first shootout. Kitts also shot at a drone that was surveilling
the area periodically, Sisk said.
When the sun went down, Kitts went deeper into a 168- acre, heavily wooded area, the sheriff said.
Sisk said Kitts was tracked for 11 hours using air support, tactical teams and officers and agents from local, state and federal agencies.
Troopers with a Georgia State Patrol SWAT unit eventually cornered and engaged Kitts behind a home on Glade Road in Rossville.
Sheriff Sisk said Kitts refused to follow lawful commands and again tried to shoot at law enforcement officers when he was cornered. Officers returned fire, and Kitts was shot.
“Thanks to the support from multiple Georgia, Tennessee and federal law enforcement officers, we were able to prevent Kitts from eluding capture,” Sisk said in statement. “We appreciate everyone’s efforts to work together and prevent an already bad situation from escalating even further.”
Officer Prescott is hospitalized at Erlanger in stable condition, police said.