MARYVILLE, Tenn. — A police chase involving two teenage suspects ended in the parking lot of BJ’s Wholesale Club at Foothills Mall on Wednesday afternoon, prompting a brief lockdown of the mall and a heavy police presence.
At approximately 3:30 p.m., the Maryville Police Department (MPD) received information about a stolen vehicle, occupied by two teens, aged 16 and 17, who had fled a Kentucky military academy. Authorities said the teens had stolen the car from a nearby dealership in Harlan County, Kentucky, before driving south on US Highway 411.
MPD officers attempted to pull over the stolen vehicle, but the teens led police on a chase that ended in the parking lot of BJ’s Wholesale Club. As the situation unfolded, law enforcement agencies, including MPD, responded swiftly to the scene, fearing the suspects might be armed.
The mall was placed on lockdown as officers searched for the teens, who were quickly located in one of the store’s fitting rooms. Both were arrested without further incident.
A search of the vehicle revealed multiple firearms, though police confirmed that the suspects were not carrying guns when apprehended. The incident raised concerns about the potential danger posed by the teens, prompting the swift response from local authorities.
The lockdown at Foothills Mall, which had lasted for just under two hours, was lifted shortly after 5 p.m.
The Harlan City Police Department in Kentucky clarified that the two teens had run away from a military school in Harlan County before stealing the vehicle. They have since been charged with theft over $10,000, four counts of possession of a firearm, and evading arrest.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the teens’ motives and actions. Meanwhile, the Maryville Police Department is praising the quick response and coordination between local and regional law enforcement agencies.
