On Tuesday January 19th, 2016, Mayor Humphrey and the Carter County Commission honored Sheriff Dexter Lunceford, Sergeant David Caldwell, Deputy Jena Markland, Deputy Jason Mosier, the Elizabethton Police Department and Carter County Sheriff’s Department S.W.A.T. Teams for their joint efforts during their response to the active shooter situation on December 16th, 2015. Mayor Humphrey and County Commissioner Cody McQueen presented awards for Exemplary Service and Valor.
First Sergeant Patrick Johnson gave a brief summary of the actions on the night of December 16,2015. “Deputies were called to a residence on Dry Hollow Road on the complaint of an armed subject. Sheriff Lunceford was on his way home from church services and hearing the call he was the first to respond. Deputies Jason Mosier, Sergeant David Caldwell and Jena Markland also responded as backup units. As these officers arrived on scene and began exiting their vehicles a barrage of gunfire was delivered form inside the residence impacting around the officers and their vehicles. As the fire slacked Sheriff Lunceford returned fire. During this firing approximately sixty (60) shots were fired, causing extensive damage to three Sheriff’s Office patrol units, injuring a civilian female and wounding Deputy Jena Markland. Being unable to exit the area of ambush, Officer took cover in a small ditch which allowed them to maintain observation of the residence while providing some protection. Mr. Mike Hyder voluntarily loaded both wounded persons into his vehicle and got them out of the area, meeting Carter County Rescue Squad units in a safe location. Both the Carter County Sheriff’s Office and Elizabethton Police Department S.W.A.T. teams responded to the scene. An operations plan was then put into play during which a forced entry was made to the residence. It was discovered that the subject had fled the rear of the residence. During a search of the area S.W.A.T. teams discovered that the subject was located in a hilltop cave and was still armed. Making a tactical advance on the cave Deputies were able to surround the suspect and take him into custody with no further violence or injury,”