CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – During the morning hours on Tuesday, Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputies were trying to serve an eviction notice to a resident off the 2800 Block of North Charles Avenue when the home caught fire.
When deputies arrived, they made several attempts to make contact with the resident but failed to get a response. Law enforcement tried to force entry through the front door, however, it was barricaded by a couch. While the deputies made verbal contact with the resident, the man refused to come outside, so they called in a supervisor.
As the supervisor arrived, the law enforcement officials heard a fire alarm and saw smoke coming from the house, Lt. Bishop Delaney said in a news release.
The Sheriff’s Office notified Clarksville Fire Rescue of the situation and then moved to the back door to try to make entry. This time, deputies saw the resident, but the man still refused to leave. Due to heavy smoke, the deputies could not enter and waited until CFR arrived.
CFR extinguished the fire, made entry and recovered the body of the resident. The resident was pronounced dead at the scene by Emergency Medical Services, who also found what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
There were no other occupants, and the next of kin has been notified. This is still an active investigation, and no other information has been released.
Daynnah Carmona and Jeff Matthews contributed to this report.