Knoxville, Tenn. — Three Knoxville Police Department officers involved in the shooting of a 52-year-old axe-wielding suspect will not face criminal charges, the office of District Attorney General Charme Allen announced on Monday.
The decision comes after a review of the incident by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), whose findings were submitted to Allen’s office. According to Allen’s office, the officers acted within the law when they shot Christopher Arons, who was reportedly armed with an axe at the time of the encounter.
The incident occurred on the 2600 block of Fairview Street, where officers responded to a call involving Arons, who was facing two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of vandalism. Body camera footage from the officers involved—Eric Smith, Alexandra Burns, and later Neil Marasigan—shows the tense moments leading up to the shooting. Arons was reportedly brandishing an axe during the confrontation.
Smith and Burns were placed on administrative leave shortly after the shooting as the department conducted an internal investigation. However, no charges have been filed against the officers, and they have since returned to duty. Marasigan, who arrived at the scene later, was not involved in the use of force.
The internal investigation into the matter is still ongoing, the department said. While the officers have been cleared of criminal wrongdoing, the department is reviewing the incident to ensure all protocols were followed during the response.
The decision by Allen’s office to not pursue charges follows a careful examination of the evidence, which included the body camera footage from the officers, as well as reports from the TBI.
As of now, the circumstances surrounding Arons’ actions remain under review as the investigation continues.
