By SUSAN SHARP

UPDATE: Sheriff Wayne Barton has confirmed the alleged shooter is in custody.

LAFOLLETTE, TN. (WLAF)- A man has been shot, and the believed suspect is on the run.

Last night, just after 6pm it was reported there was an altercation between two men resulting in the older of the two shooting the other one. The two men are believed to know each other, according to WLAF sources.

The alleged suspect , a white male in his 70s, fled in a silver sedan, sources said.

Campbell County Sheriff Wayne Barton was reluctant to share information about the event telling WLAF more information would be released after the man was captured. “We expect to have him in custody very soon,” Barton said.

When pressed for details, Barton said it is believed the two men were arguing over a lawn mower when the shot was fired. The victim was allegedly struck in the stomach. Authorities have not been able to interview him yet, Barton said.

Schools were placed on soft lockdown once calls from the community were placed to school officials. Valley View Elementary is two miles from the area where the shooting took place. Sources said schools weren’t notified of the fleeing suspect until this morning.

“No one in the schools was involved,” Barton said.

WLAF began receiving calls early this morning from people concerned about safety in the area. Barton was asked why, given there was an armed suspect in the community, WLAF wasn’t contacted.

“We never felt like anyone else was in danger,” he said.

Once the suspect is arrested, he will let WLAF and the community know, Barton said.

(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED 9/6/2024- 9:30AM)

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