WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & SportsUpdate: Police Release New Details on Ft. O Suspect Shooting

Update: Police Release New Details on Ft. O Suspect Shooting

Thursday 5pm

WALKER COUNTY, GA (WRCB) --  Uniformed officers are required to wear body armour in Fort Oglethorpe, and the police chief says Wednesday's deadly shootout proves why.

A bullet proof vest weighs anywhere from five to seven pounds.  It can be hot, and uncomfortable,  but as officer Mitchell Moore discovered, it's not an option.

Chief David Eubanks told Eyewitness News, "You never know from minute to minute what you're going to get into in this work, and that's why it's so important to wear your vest."

If it weren't for that vest, Chief Eubanks would be having a very different conversation.  Thursday, he sat down with Eyewitness News to brag about his officer Mitchell Moore.  One of the best patrolman on Ft. Oglethorpe's force, following protocol yesterday saved his life.

"If they're on duty in (this) uniform, they have to have it on," added Eubanks.

At the time, it seemed routine.  Officer Moore was called to the Ft. Ogelthorpe Chick-Fil-A, to help Walker County deputy Terry Miller make an arrest on outstanding charges.  Seconds after Moore arrived, suspect John Coates started shooting.

"It actually went into the sleeve of the vest, skirted along the vest, exited the vest," explained Chief Eubanks.  "It hit the right rear tire of the patrol car next to him, hit the frame of the car, and then bounced back toward the Chick-Fil-A building."

The bullet never reached Moore's skin, and aside from a big bruise on his spine, he's escaped without any injury.  He even came to the station Thursday, to see if he could work.  The chief says it's amazing, considering just yesterday, he took a bullet to the back.

We did some checking with other police agencies.  Hamilton, Catoosa, and Bradley counties all require uniformed patrol officers to wear bullet proof vests.  The same is true for the city of Chattanooga, but administrative and support officers only have to wear vests when their assignment warrants it.

Thursday 3pm

CHATTANOOGA (WRCB) -- Eyewitness News has learned that Officer Mitchell Moore worked at one time as a UTC police officer.

Thursday Noon

WALKER COUNTY, GA (WRCB) -- Authorities have released the mug shot of John Coates from a previous arrest. They have listed the outstanding warrants on Coates:

• Aggravated Stalking Ga. code 16-5-91 Felony
• Violation of Family violence order Ga. code 16-5-95
• Use of fighting words Ga. code 16-11-39 Misdemeanor

Wednesday 8:10 p.m.

Walker County Courthouse employees tell Eyewitness News John Coates has seen the inside of the courtroom before, but only for misdemeanor charges.  In February of 2008, Coats was charged with simple battery and obstruction of an officer;  those charges were later dismissed.

5:15 p.m.

Police have identified the shooting suspect as  34-year-old John Coates from Rossville, Ga. A deputy spotted him this morning at a methadone clinic and followed him to the Chick-Fil-A in Fort Oglethorpe where the shooting occurred in broad daylight.

Noon

Eyewitness news has learned that the suspect had died as a result of his injuries. He was pronounced dead at 10:46 a.m. His name has not been released yet.

Officer Mitchell Moore is expected to make a full recovery from injuries he sustained.

Information is still limited at this point. Stay with Eyewitness News to bring you all the details as they become available.

11 a.m.

According to Fort Oglethorpe Mayor Ronnie Cobb, Walker County officers were attempting to serve a warrant for aggravated stalking, but when a struggle ensued they called for backup.

At that point, the suspect got a gun and shot officer Mitchell Moore. Moore was hit on his lower right side. He was wearing a vest.  

Cobb says the suspect was shot in the head and is not expected to survive.

Eyewitness News will continue to bring you more details as they become available.

10:45 a.m.

FT. OGLETHORPE (WRCB) - Eyewitness News has confirmed that the suspect and the officer were both shot and taken to a local hospital. There is no word yet on either of their conditions.

GBI is handling the investigation.

Tune into Eyewitness News for live pictures and reports. It's coverage you can count on.

10:15 a.m.

FT OGLETHORPE (WRCB) -- Eyewitness News has confirmed that a Fort Oglethorpe police officer has been shot. That shooting has happened at the Chick-Fil-A on Battlefield Parkway.

Stay with Eyewitness News and WRCBtv.com for the latest details on this developing story.