ATTENTION DRIVERS:
I-40 in Knoxville, Tennessee was closed shortly after 9:00 a.m. today. Traffic is backed up for three miles to mile marker 396.
Motorists are being asked to find alternate routes, such as I-640.
Eastbound lanes of I-40 have reopened, but the westbound lanes are closed after shots were fired near the interstate.
@knoxnews Lots of KPD cars on scene of early am shooting near Wheeler and Glider. pic.twitter.com/6H6KqbUYee
— johnnorth (@jnbeatlefan) May 3, 2014
Reports of the gunshots came in around 8:45 a.m. on Saturday, though shots were fired over a period of several hours.
The motorist who called in the report stated that the man was waving a 2×4 piece of wood and a firearm on the interstate.
According to the Knoxville Police Department, the shooter walked into the woods and is currently holed up in a house on Wheeler Street. Police are on the scene, and currently negotiating with the suspect.
The shooter is suspected to be in possession of a rifle and two handguns.
There have been no injuries, however – there is believed to be a woman in the basement of the subdivided home. She is currently believed to be safe, and police officers have asked her not to come out.
Sources
Knox News
Local 8 Now
WATE
WBIR