Family member of man killed in Charleston officer-involved shooting speaks out

The Latest: 7:00 pm (12-19-2017)

CHARLESTON, Tenn. (WDEF) – TBI has confirmed the identity of the man killed in an officer involved shooting in Charleston, TN as 27-year-old Johnathan Melton.

At the request of 10th District Attorney General Stephen Crump, TBI Agents continue to investigate the circumstances of an officer-involved shooting early this morning in Charleston.

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CHARLESTON, Tenn. (WDEF) – The family of a man killed in an officer-involved shooting in Charleston, Tennessee is speaking out.

Iva Pilbeam, who lives in Michigan, said she decided to call police after being notified that something was wrong with her grandson Johnathan Melton in Charleston, Tennessee.

“They said that there had been a confrontation and a shooting and that the person was dead and I said is it my grandson johnny, and they said they believe so by the I.D. he was carrying, but they couldn’t tell me positively,” Pilbeam said.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has confirmed that Melton did die after an officer-involved shooting.

According to T.B.I., officers responded to a home on Leyland Drive Sunday morning where Melton allegedly assaulted a man with a weapon, and fled on foot.

When Authorities found Melton he reportedly had weapons in both hands and ignored law enforcement commands.

T.B.I. officials said officers tried to subdue him with a stun gun before Bradley County Deputy Corey Loftis fired his weapon.

Melton later died.

“Johnny was a typical 27-year-old guy.  He worked hard on his job when he had one.  He had apparently had just lost it recently.  He loved his babies.  His babies were his life,” Pilbeam said.

She added that he had two kids and had served in the National Guard, but was medically discharged after getting injured in basic training.

Melton has had a run in with the law before.

He was last booked into the Bradley County Jail in September for vandalism over $1,000 and violation of order of protection.

His body was taken for an autopsy.

The officer-involved shooting remains under investigation.

The family is raising money for funeral costs through a Go Fund Me page.

As for the stabbing victim, WDEF has been told that he is recovering.