CHATTANOOGA, TN — Chattanooga police are asking for witnesses after a 16-year-old girl was shot Thursday night on Browns Ferry Road. Investigators say the gunfire came from one vehicle into another, and the teen was hit in the arm. Police said her injury is believed to be non-life-threatening.
The Facts
- What: Chattanooga police are investigating a shooting that injured a 16-year-old girl.
- Where: Browns Ferry Road near I-24 in Chattanooga.
- When: Thursday night, during a window police say included 8:20 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
- Who: A 16-year-old girl was struck in the arm; police say a suspect fired from a vehicle.
- Charges: No charges have been announced.
- Status: The case is under active investigation by Chattanooga Police Department major crimes and crime units.
What police say
Police said the teenager first encountered the suspect while entering westbound I-24 from Highway 27. According to Chattanooga police, the victim then exited the interstate onto Browns Ferry Road, and the suspect began shooting from I-24.
Investigators described the suspect vehicle as a mid-size white SUV with a Georgia license plate. Police also said they want to speak with anyone who saw a white SUV interacting with a black Silverado truck in the area.
The department has said the information is preliminary and may change as detectives continue to work the case. That is common in the early stages of a shooting investigation, when officers are still sorting out witness statements, vehicle descriptions, and the sequence of events.
Chattanooga police have not publicly identified the teenager or said whether investigators believe the suspect and victim knew each other. They have also not said how many rounds were fired or whether any other people were in the vehicles.
The investigation
Chattanooga police are asking drivers who were on I-24 between Rossville Boulevard and Browns Ferry Road between 8:20 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. to come forward if they saw anything relevant. Officers are also requesting dashcam footage from the area.
That kind of video can be important in a vehicle-to-vehicle shooting because it may show the path of the cars, the order of events, or the suspect vehicle’s make, color, and plate information. Detectives often use traffic cameras, nearby business cameras, and witness accounts together.
The department has given the public a phone number, (423) 698-2525, for anyone with information. When police ask for witnesses in an active case, they are usually looking for independent accounts that can confirm or narrow down what happened before and after the shooting.
What the charges mean
No arrest has been announced, so no formal charges have been filed in the case described by police. If investigators identify a suspect, prosecutors could review the evidence and decide what charges fit the facts under Tennessee law.
In a shooting case, possible charges can depend on intent, the age of the victim, whether a weapon was used, and whether anyone was seriously hurt. The exact charge would determine how the case moves through court, including whether it is handled in juvenile or adult proceedings, if an arrest is made.
At that point, a defendant would typically be booked, appear before a judge, and learn whether bail is available under the law. Early hearings are usually focused on identity, custody status, and whether probable cause exists to move the case forward.
What happens next
The case remains open, and police have not said whether they have identified a suspect. For now, detectives are still trying to pin down the vehicle involved and the people who may have seen it before or after the shooting.
Anyone with information can contact the Chattanooga Police Department at (423) 698-2525. Police are especially interested in witnesses or dashcam video from the stretch of I-24 where the shooting is believed to have occurred.
Have information on a crime? Contact local police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
