‘A hero’ | Who was fallen Knox County Deputy Tucker Blakely?
“Officer Blakely is a hero. He lived as a hero, he died as a hero.”
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Knox County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Tucker Blakely, 29, died after being shot responding to a domestic call in West Knox County Sunday. The announcement came from Sheriff Tom Spangler Monday night.
Blakely leaves behind a wife, Katarina, and five-year-old son. “Officer Blakely is a hero. He lived as a hero, he died as a hero,” Spangler said. “Keep Tucker’s family in your thoughts.”
Previous Coverage: Knox Co. deputy dies after responding to domestic call
He was a graduate of Powell High School and an Army veteran. Up until March of 2022, Blakely served as a reservist and combat medic. Blakely graduated from the Knox County Regional Training Academy in 2021 and was recently selected as a candidate for KCSO’s K-9 course.
“It is unfortunate that Officer Blakely will never be able to live out that dream,” KCSO officials said. “The life of a servant taken far too soon.”
The deputy was shot while responding to the Solway area call Sunday night. He was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center after being injured, escorted there by his fellow deputies. At the time, KCSO spokeswoman Kimberly Glenn said “our officer is fighting for his life.”
Blakely’s peers stayed at the hospital through the night, making their support and presence known Monday evening by flashing their police lights outside the hospital. Later, they escorted his body to the Medical Examiner’s Office.
WVLT News spoke with Ty Blakely, Tucker’s brother. He said his family has been touched by the community’s kindness following the death.
“We’re so blessed and honored by the community outreach and the overwhelming amount of love,” he said.
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