Knoxville, Tennessee — On Tuesday, November 12, 2024, just before 1:15 p.m., Knox County 9-1-1 received multiple calls concerning an active disturbance involving a man armed with an axe. Minutes later, Knoxville Police Officers Eric Smith and Alexandra Burns arrived at the scene and confronted the subject of that disturbance, who has since been identified as 52-year-old Christopher Arons. Arons was armed with a small axe. Officer Smith was walking down Fairview Street before encountering Arons. Officer Smith raised his gun and began yelling at Arons to drop the ax as Officer Burns arrived. Arons eventually began walking toward Officer Smith and said "I can't" several times when told to drop the ax. Officer Smith and Officer Burns then fired a total of three shots at Arons after he approached Officer Smith with the ax still in hand. After shots were fired, responding officers rendered medical aid until emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene and transported Arons to the UT Medical Center for further treatment. Arons is expected to recover from his injuries. Arons has since been charged with two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of vandalism.