Janie Parks Varnell of Davis and Hoss, P.C. represents Officer Brian Cottell with the Chattanooga Police Department, and said on Wednesday, “Contrary to previous reports, Officer Cottell did not discharge his service weapon unintentionally. He did not accidentally shoot a man who was deceased. He purposefully discharged his weapon to protect himself and other officers as he was trained to do in these types of situations.

"Officer Cottell is a 20-year career law enforcement officer and a military veteran.

He is a certified hostage negotiator and a member of the Crisis Intervention Team. Officer Cottell has been extensively trained in critical incidents involving suicidal parties, hostage negotiations, and high-intensity situations.

"On Aug. 26, 2018, multiple officers with the Chattanooga Police Department responded to a suicidal individual with a weapon. When officers entered the apartment of the individual, he brandished a firearm. Officer Cottell and other responding officers began giving commands to the suspect to drop his weapon. Officer Cottell, using his training as a hostage negotiator, tried to convince the suspect to drop the weapon. The suspect refused to comply and fired one round, shooting himself. Almost simultaneously to the suspect’s shot, Officer Cottell, from a distance of approximately 15 feet, fired three quick rounds as he was trained to do both in the military and in law enforcement. Officer Cottell fired his weapon because he perceived a threat to himself and other Chattanooga police officers on scene.

“Officer Cottell and other responding officers found themselves in a stressful and rapidly-evolving situation involving an armed suspect with a gun. After the suspect fired his weapon, Officer Cottell acted reasonably pursuant to his extensive training and his years of experience.”