Crime & Safety
Tennessee Shooting Today Oct 25: 4 Deputies Open Fire, Killing Armed Man
Kingsport, TN – A deadly officer involved shooting in Sullivan County on Sunday morning, October 25, has prompted an independent investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation after four sheri
By Sophie Caldwell · 2026-10-25T20:01:26.702Z
Kingsport, TN – A deadly officer involved shooting in Sullivan County on Sunday morning, October 25, has prompted an independent investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation after four sheriff's deputies opened fire on an armed man at a Kingsport apartment complex.
According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation TBI , deputies with the Sullivan County Sheriff 's Office responded shortly before 8 a.m. to an apartment complex in the 1000 block of Bloomingdale Pike in Kingsport.
Authorities were responding to information that Joshua Delp, born August 9, 1996, was at the location. Delp reportedly had outstanding felony warrants.
When deputies arrived, they located Delp, who authorities said was armed with a gun.
During the encounter, the situation escalated for reasons that remain under investigation. Four deputies fired their weapons, striking Delp.
Delp was pronounced dead at the scene. No deputies were injured during the incident, according to investigators.
The TBI confirmed that special agents are conducting an independent investigation at the request of 2nd Judicial District Attorney General Barry Staubus.
Investigators are collecting evidence and conducting interviews to determine the sequence of events leading up to the shooting.
The Sullivan County Sheriff's Office also acknowledged the incident in a public statement, confirming its cooperation with the independent investigation.
The TBI emphasized that its role is to establish the facts surrounding the shooting, not determine whether the deputies' actions were legally justified.
That determination will ultimately rest with the district attorney general after reviewing the investigative findings.
Authorities have not publicly identified the four deputies involved or disclosed additional details about what caused the encounter to escalate.
Additional information is expected as the investigation continues.