Ransom Duane McCoy, a 45-year-old white male, died on May 29, 2014, following a police chase that ended in an officer-involved shooting in Bristol, Tennessee. The events leading to his death began when McCoy was identified as a suspect in the theft of a Ford F-150 pickup truck.
Law enforcement officers pursued McCoy in a high-speed chase. The pursuit came to an end when McCoy crashed the stolen truck through a chain-link fence at a property on Keith Drive, located off Blountville Highway. According to the Sullivan County Sheriff, after the crash, McCoy exited the vehicle and ran at an officer.
A Washington County, Virginia, sheriff's deputy who was involved in the pursuit fired his weapon, striking McCoy. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation was called to the scene to conduct an investigation into the shooting, as is standard procedure for officer-involved shootings in Tennessee. The Washington County, Virginia, Sheriff's Department, and the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office were also involved in the on-scene investigation.
Following the investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the findings were presented to the Sullivan County District Attorney's office for review. The District Attorney ultimately determined that the shooting was justified and cleared the Washington County deputy of any wrongdoing. As a result, no criminal charges were filed against the officer in connection with the death of Ransom Duane McCoy.
