Tenn. Police Take Fire while Responding to Strange Happenings at Home

A homeowner who reported mysterious knocks in the night won the attention of police after responding officers found themselves dodging gunshots from an “empty field,” according to investigators in East Tennessee.

The source of the shots — and the window tapping — remains unidentified and at large, the Tazewell Police Department said in a news release.

Investigators say the unusual call came around 1:15 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26, and involved strange noises.

“The caller advised that they had heard knocking on their window. Officer Andrew Harris responded and was assisted by Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office to patrol the area,” police said in the news release.

“As (Harris and Deputy Luke Walsh) approached the south corner of the residence shots were fired in the direction of the officers from across the road from an empty field.”

As many as 10 shots came out of the dark “and were close enough to be heard whizzing by the officers,” police said.

The officer and deputy ran for cover and called for help. Neither was struck by bullets, officials said.

However, “the shooter was never located,” police said.

A Facebook post reporting the incident has gotten hundreds of reactions and comments, including questions over why someone would be standing in a dark field with guns in hand at 1 a.m.

“Sounds like an ambush. ... Very scary,” Brenda Krach DiFabbio wrote on the department’s Facebook page.

Tazewell is about an 80-mile drive north from Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

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