Thomas “Tommy” Lovett

Deadly force

Police responded to a report that a man had attacked a 17-year-old girl outside the food court at the Oxford Valley Mall, choking her and sticking his fingers in her eyes. Tommy Lovett ran from mall security into a wooded area. When an officer caught up, Lovett swung a tree branch at the officer, then climbed over a large fallen tree. Lovett picked up a brick, and the officer fired one shot that didn't hit Lovett or cause him to drop the brick. The officer then shot and killed him.