Hamilton County, TN - Earlier this afternoon, Thursday, December 1st, at approximately 4:00 pm, the HCSO received information that an alleged suspicious person was located within the Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences (CSAS is located Erlanger Hospital Downtown). According to the information received, the suspicious person matched the description of the suspect wanted by the Chattanooga Police Department (CPD) for the earlier shooting of a CPD Officer.

The HCSO immediately responded, including the SRO for CSAS, and secured the school. Sheriff's deputies performed a thorough search of the school. The search has been concluded and no suspicious person or persons were found matching the description offered by the CPD regarding the suspect wanted for the shooting earlier in the day.

All the children at CSAS are safe and secure. The school will be dismissing the children shortly.

At this time, no indication has been found to confirm that the individual being sought by CPD was ever at CSAS. However, to ensure the safety of the students, deputies did take additional precautions and conducted a thorough search of the school.

News media personnel are encouraged to stay away from the school in order to allow parents to safely pick up their children and for busses to retrieve the students.

No further information is available at this time.