Off-duty deputy celebrating birthday killed by police

NASHVILLE — An off-duty sheriff's office employee was killed by Chattanooga, Tenn., police as he celebrated his 26th birthday, authorities said Wednesday.

Authorities said, Daniel Hendrix, a corrections deputy in the Hamilton County (Tenn.) Sheriff's Office, was celebrating his birthday early Wednesday with two female friends, both off-duty Chattanooga Police Department officers.

"For reasons still under investigation, Hendrix appears to have changed his demeanor, became agitated, armed himself with a personal firearm, and threatened the two women, who later managed to flee the home during the exchange," the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in a statement after the fatal shooting, which they said happened about 1:30 a.m.

Related: Two Miami officers wounded in ‘ambush-style’ shooting

According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations, one of the women called 911.

Two Chattanooga police officers responded to the scene and located Hendrix, still armed, in the backyard of the home. Witnesses said the officer gave verbal commands for Hendrix to drop his weapon, but he did not comply.

Instead, the statement said, the situation escalated and resulted in one of the two responding officers firing his service weapon at least four times, striking Hendrix, who later died at a hospital.

Investigators found the firearm believed to be the one Hendrix used during the incident.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigations said they will submit the case findings to the district attorney general for review. The district attorney general will decide whether the officer's actions were justified.

Related: Police were called before 'horrific' Sanford shooting rampage

The bureau is not releasing the name of the officer who fatally shot Hendrix.

In a statement Wednesday, Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond said Hendrix had been with the department since July 2013.

“The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office would like to offer its condolences to the family of our corrections deputy and our prayers are with those involved in this unfortunate incident," the statement reads. "At this time, District Attorney Neal Pinkston has requested the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to investigate the incident so the (Hamilton County Sheriff's Office) and the (Chattanooga Police Department) may remain neutral.”

Follow Natalie Neysa Alund on Twitter: @nataliealund