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Angel Melendez

Age : 46

Gender : Male

Race : Latino/a/e

Date : 01/26/2026

Location : North Park Apartments, Tillery Road

City : Knoxville

County : Knox

State : Tennessee

Agency : Knoxville Police Department

Officer(s) :Unknown

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during endangered child alert response

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 01/28/2026, Knoxville Police Department officers responded to an endangered child alert at the North Park Apartments on Tillery Road in Knoxville, Tennessee, after credible information indicated a 15-year-old girl with the alert was inside an apartment with a 46-year-old man, later identified as Angel Melendez. Officers entered the apartment with the property owner’s consent and attempted to detain both individuals. During the encounter, Melendez produced a firearm and pointed it at officers. Officers then fired, striking him multiple times. Melendez was pronounced dead at the scene. The endangered child was unharmed and safely recovered. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is leading the independent inquiry into the killing.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.wvlt.tv/2026/01/28/knoxville-officers-involved-shooting-while-responding-endangered-child-alert/
https://tbinewsroom.com/2026/01/28/tbi-special-agents-investigating-knoxville-officer-involved-shooting/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/man-shot-killed-while-knoxville-164521508.html