At 10:26 p.m. Sunday night, CPD was notified of a possible active shooter at a post office located on 6050 Shallowford Rd in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
“Right now, what I can confirm for you is that there are two deceased from gunshot wound injuries,” said Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy. “Right now, the situation is contained. There is no further threat to the public.”
CPD says 27-year-old Brian Simmons gunned down his supervisor, 30-year-old Cody Ranson (pictured), following a verbal dispute at the post office, where both of them worked.
Police say Simmons then fled the scene to 5241 Highway 153 in Hixson.
Simmons then crashed into the local Apple Nail Bar nail salon and was found dead upon CPD’s arrival.
One local business owner, who wished to remain anonymous, is stunned by the damage left behind.
“First I thought someone, an employee or customer, accidentally drove in,” the business owner said. “But then when I heard it’s connected to another shooting on Shallowford Road, I was very shocked. [I have] never seen stuff like this in Chattanooga before in 14 years.”
The USPS has since temporarily suspended operations at Chattanooga’s main post office and finance station.
The business owner believes local law enforcement is doing all it can, but says the state of crime in the city and surrounding area is concerning.
“It is getting worse and worse every day,” the business owner said. “It scares us every day running a business and as a family. I told my family not to go into Chattanooga in the public area if you don’t have to because of activities like this.”
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