The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) on Wednesday morning confirmed the capture of one of two men suspected of shooting police officers and addressed reports of some Tennesseans receiving duplicate Blue Alerts on their mobile devices in the overnight hours.
The remaining Blue Alert suspect was reported on Tuesday night as deceased after exchanging gunfire with Kentucky police.
BJ Brown, the subject of the Blue Alert in Erin, has been taken into custody. pic.twitter.com/edM3E103V1
— Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (@TBInvestigation) June 29, 2022
On Tuesday, the TBI issued an original Blue Alert notification for BJ Brown, who was wanted by the Erin Police Department and TBI for the attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer. On Wednesday morning, the TBI announced that Brown was in custody.
UPDATE: Samuel Edwards, the subject of a Blue Alert issued today, was involved in an exchange of gunfire with Kentucky State Police. He is deceased. pic.twitter.com/imJOVaarXn
— Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (@TBInvestigation) June 29, 2022
Additionally, on Tuesday, a Blue Alert was issued for Samuel Edwards, who was wanted by Metro Nashville PD and TBI for attempted criminal homicide and evading arrest. The TBI announced on Tuesday night that Edwards was involved in an exchange of gunfire with Kentucky State Police and was deceased.
However, some mobile device users reported to the TBI that duplicate Blue Alerts for the suspects were sent out in the overnight hours, causing confusion.
We've heard a number of reports about some cell phone users receiving alerts overnight for the Blue Alerts we issued Tuesday.
While TBI doesn't send mobile alerts to your device, we're working with our partners who do to determine what happened. Not everyone received them.
1/3 pic.twitter.com/rPO7exdBpl
— Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (@TBInvestigation) June 29, 2022
In a Twitter thread, the TBI addressed the error, writing, “We’ve heard a number of reports about some cell phone users receiving alerts overnight for the Blue Alerts we issued Tuesday. While TBI doesn’t send mobile alerts to your device, we’re working with our partners who do to determine what happened. Not everyone received them.”
The thread went on to say, “In Blue Alerts, cell phone notifications are just one tool used to alert the public about dangerous fugitives who pose an immediate risk to the community. TBI also uses Twitter, Facebook, Nextdoor, and traditional media to spread the word. Like you, we want our alert system to be as helpful as it can be, and always work to sharpen what we do based on your feedback. We hear many of your frustrations about what happened, and will certainly take it into account moving forward.”
According to the TBI, the department began issuing Blue Alerts on July 1st, 2011 as established by TCA 38-6-122, which required the agency to develop a system for the rapid dissemination of information to the public to assist in apprehending violent criminals who kill or seriously injure law enforcement officers in the line of duty or to aid in locating a missing officer where foul play is involved. The program uses the statewide infrastructure of the existing AMBER Alert system to push out critical information to citizens to assist in locating missing children who are in imminent danger.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Police Tape” by Tony Webster. CC BY-SA 4.0.
