LCSO Armed suspect in custody

LCSO: Armed suspect in custody, school lockdown lifted

LENOIR CITY, Tenn. (WATE) — Authorities Monday morning were searching for a reportedly armed and dangerous suspect near the area of Highland Park Drive in Lenoir City. He was later taken into custody. As a precaution, Highland Park Elementary was placed on lockdown.

A release from the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office shared that early Monday morning, Lenoir City Police Department received a call about a suspicious male at the Aldi on Highway 321 and Highland Park Drive. As dispatchers were gathering information, they received multiple calls about the same man running down Highland Park Drive. According to police, witnesses said they heard gunshots and screaming coming from the area where the male was last seen.

The Loudon County Sheriff’s Office, Lenoir City Police Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) began searching the area for the man, identified as Caiden Hall. LCSO also used a drone to canvas the area.

Cpl. Cody Bengel wrote that “Hall and his girlfriend got into a verbal argument. The argument escalated and Hall ran a short distance to his home and retrieved a pistol from within the home. Hall came back outside and began firing into the air and took off running into the woods. As a precaution, and due to the close proximity, Highland Park Elementary was placed on lockdown.”

Hall was seen coming out of the woods by detectives who were utilizing a drone. He was then taken into custody and the THP used a K-9 to find the firearm. He has been charged with reckless endangerment.

“Thanks to the swift and coordinated efforts of multiple agencies, we were able to safely take this suspect into custody,” said Sheriff Jimmy Davis. “The situation was handled with the utmost care to ensure the safety of the community, especially nearby residents and the students and staff at Highland Park Elementary School. We are grateful for the cooperation of everyone involved in bringing this incident to a peaceful resolution.”

As a precaution, Highland Park Elementary was put on lockdown. That lockdown was later lifted after Hall was taken into custody.