Deputy Sheriff Tucker Blakely

Officer: Knox County Sheriff's Office, Deputy Sheriff Tucker Blakely

Date: 10/2/2023          Location: Knoxville, TN                     FACTORS (1,2,4,7,15,18,19)

Perpetrator(s) Involved: Matthew Logan Rose

Criminal Activity History/Involved: Yes,in July 2023 Rose was charged with “domestic violence, reckless use of a gun and illegal entry.” / Yes, a neighbor called to report Rose was involved in a domestic dispute with his wife.

Mental Illness: Yes, Rose’s wife said, “he suffered from the mental illnesses of Borderline Personality Disorder, PTSD, and Bipolar Disorder."

Substance Abuse History/Involved: Yes, earlier in the year Rose had a criminal incident when he was on a “three-day binge of alcohol and drugs.” / None stated.

Race/Sex/Age: White/Male/30

What prompted the initial contact with the killer? At around 11 p.m. on October 1, 2023, Knox County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a 911 call of a domestic disturbance at a house.

Actions taken by subject toward police: Rose ambushed the deputies as they searched the house for him, fatally shooting Deputy Sheriff Tucker Blakely.

Reactions by the police: The other deputy returned fire and justifiably killed Rose.

How murdered? Deputy Blakely was ambushed and shot while investigating a domestic violence incident.

What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? Fearing for the safety of the woman involved in the domestic dispute, the deputies bravely searched the house despite the risk of being ambushed.

Would the officer have been justified in using deadly force before being murdered? The deputies were justified in using deadly force as soon as they observed Rose in possession of a firearm or making a furtive movement for one.

Outcome for the cop-killer: Rose was killed by a deputy in the gun battle.