SMITHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — DeKalb County authorities say a 28-year-old McMinnville man died following a shootout with officers Thursday night.
DeKalb County sheriff’s officials say Gregorio Cruz Vanloo was shot during the standoff on Toad Road. He was taken to an area hospital and pronounced dead.
“When we arrived on the scene, Vanloo was on the front porch and after threatening the officers he drew down on them with a handgun and after an exchange of gunfire with officers Vanloo was wounded,” Sheriff Patrick Ray said in part.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is also investigating the shooting.
Vanloo had been a suspect in a “shots fired” incident in the parking lot of Los Lobos Mexican Restaurant earlier that morning. A woman, her brother and Vanloo pulled into the parking lot when her former boyfriend, Steven Christopher Shelton, pulled up beside them.
The woman told investigators that Shelton had been harassing her even though she had an order of protection against him.
Officials said her brother got out of the car to confront Shelton when Vanloor, who was seated in the back seat, fired two shots into the side of Shelton’s SUV. Shelton drove to the back of the parking lot and took cover in the restaurant.
The woman then dropped Vanloo off in the Midway Community. When officers later questioned her, she explained what happened and where she had dropped him off.
Neighbors reported several tips during the search for Vanloo, one of which led to a high-speed chase that ended with the arrest of Gregory Patton. Another tip prompted a Walmart in Smithville to be placed on lockdown.
Both Patton and Shelton were taken into custody. Patton faces charges for leading police on a chase after admitting he was high on methamphetamine and heroin. Shelton is charged with assault and violating an order of protection.
