Death by Cop 2021-2025
Search fatalities
You can use any or all of the fields to refine the search.
Theodore “Teddy” Joseph Deschler
Age : 45
Gender : Male
Race : White
Date : 08/16/2023
Location : Sanford Street near Hearn Street and Anderson Circle
City : Henderson
County : Chester
State : Tennessee
Agency : Federal Bureau of Investigation
Officer(s) :Unknown
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during SWAT raid
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
On 08/16/2023, at approximately 6:40 a.m., an FBI SWAT team conducted an arrest operation at the Henderson home where 45-year-old Theodore “Teddy” Joseph Deschler lived with his mother. The FBI acknowledged that an agent-involved shooting occurred during the operation and that Deschler was killed.
.
Deschler was an honorably discharged military veteran who had served for eight years and was a 100% disabled veteran. His family said he suffered from severe PTSD and depression and was receiving treatment.
.
A neighbor reported hearing loud bangs and FBI agents using a loudspeaker to order Deschler to come outside with his hands raised. The neighbor said agents subsequently broke windows at the residence. Local law enforcement reportedly did not arrive until approximately 30 minutes after the FBI operation began.
.
Deschler's mother was inside when the FBI arrived. According to the family, agents removed her from the residence and placed her in a police vehicle. Deschler's brother Russell said agents broke multiple windows, deployed flashbangs and smoke or chemical agents into the house, and caused extensive damage during the raid. He estimated the encounter lasted approximately 15 minutes from the agents' arrival until Deschler was shot.
.
Deschler's family disputed the circumstances of the shooting and said he was unarmed when the FBI killed him. Russell Deschler said his brother was attempting to get out of the house after it filled with gas. The family believed an FBI agent fired through a broken garage window toward Deschler while he was behind a door near the kitchen and questioned whether the agent could actually see whether Deschler possessed a weapon.
.
The family showed reporters bullet damage inside the residence, including a refrigerator struck by gunfire, broken windows and other damage from the tactical operation. They said the FBI had not explained why Deschler was being arrested or provided them with an account of why deadly force was used.
.
Eight months after the killing, the circumstances remained unresolved publicly. The FBI continued to decline to explain what led to the arrest operation or what occurred immediately before its agent shot Deschler. Henderson police reportedly said they had not been informed of the federal raid beforehand.
.
The FBI stated that its Inspection Division was reviewing the shooting under the agency's procedures for shootings involving FBI agents or task-force personnel. Deschler's family said it intended to pursue civil litigation concerning his death.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.wbbjtv.com/2023/08/16/one-dead-after-fbi-agent-involved-shooting-in-henderson/
