Reggie White Blvd. shooting suspect identified by CPD

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Chattanooga Police officially identified the suspect involved in the skate park shooting earlier this month. 

“Throughout the course of the investigation, the suspect was identified as 29-year-old Demitre Tayshaun Isaac,” said Sgt. Victor Miller, CPD Public Information Officer. “CPD’s Homicide Unit was able to obtain arrest warrants charging him with first degree murder and felony reckless endangerment.” 

CPD said the shooting incident began with an argument between three people near the Chattanooga skate park on Reggie White Boulevard. 

When officers arrived on the scene CPD identified 21-year-old Michael Buttram with life threatening injuries.  

Sgt. Miller confirms Buttram later died at the hospital from his injuries. 

“One of the men in the argument had a handgun in his waistband. Another one of the men involved in the argument took that gun from him, and when our victim, Michael Buttram, tried to help that person get the gun back… That is when he was shot,” said Miller. 

According to the Chattanooga Police Department, they recently had five homicides, and out of those five, they were able to close four of them by arrest. 

“The fugitive unit developed information that the suspect was located in Alabama. We sent this information to the local Fugitive Task Force there, and on April 24, he was located in Montgomery, Alabama by the United States Marshal Service, the Gulf Coast Regional Task Force, Montgomery Police Department, and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office,” Miller said. 

And in the future, Sgt. Miller asks folks to dial 911 if they notice anything suspicious. 

“If our community members see large groups of people late at night, with weapons with guns, maybe alcohol is involved. If you see that type of activity, please call us and allow us to respond and find out what is going on in order to be able to disperse the situation,” Miller concluded.