Attempted Chattanooga shooter dead from self-inflicted gunshot after plan ‘failed’: Police report

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WKRN) — A man is dead by his own hand following an active shooting threat near a Chattanooga shopping center.

According to Chattanooga police, they and ATF responded to a potential active shooter threat at Hamilton Place Mall around 2 p.m. Monday. The incident took place in a CBL office building behind the Cheesecake Factory.

Police say they received multiple calls of a person with a gun was firing shots inside the building.

CPD and other law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical agencies responded to the scene, according to Chattanooga authorities. They received a suspect description from individuals inside the office building and later found a person matching that description with an “apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.” Authorities said he was deceased on the scene.

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Law enforcement continued to search the whole building after locating the deceased but found no other victims.

According to the CPD Homicide Unit, the preliminary investigation revealed the suspect to be John Schultz, 67. He was an employee of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau.

Authorities said he was observed by witnesses pointing a gun at multiple employees and pulling the trigger; however, the firearm malfunctioned and did not fire. The other employees were able to separate themselves and get away from Schultz, police said. At some point during the incident, CPD said it appears Schultz shot himself with a second firearm.

The investigation remains ongoing, CPD said.

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