Channara Tom Pheap, 33

Knoxville, Tennessee
August 26, 2019

Agencies: Knox County Sheriff's Office Tennessee | Knoxville Police Department - Tennessee | Tennessee Bureau of Investigation TBI

Cause of death: Shooting

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Last updated: over 3 years ago

Overview

Following a hit-and-run crash, 33-year-old man Channara Tom "Philly" Pheap was shot and killed by a responding Knoxville Police Department officer.  Tammy Mattina, a Knoxville Police Department sergeant and spokeswoman, stated that the responding officer and Pheap got into a physical altercation that led to the officer firing shots.

In 2015, Pheap, who is of Cambodian descent received a conviction for evading arrest.  However, there is no record that Pheap had any further interactions with law enforcement outside of dealing with the 2015 conviction.

The KPD officer, whose name has not been released, was treated and released from a local hospital Monday night for unspecified injuries, according to the Knox County Sheriff's Office, which is investigating the shooting.

KCSO spokeswoman Kimberly Glenn declined Tuesday to release more details surrounding shooting - including whether Pheap was armed - citing the ongoing investigation.

She said the findings will be forwarded to Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen for review.

Legal Action

On August 26, 2020, the family of the man who was fatally shot by a Knoxville Police officer last year filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit against the city, Knoxville Police and the KPD officer who shot him.