Police say truck driver fatally stabbed three people off interstate in Tennessee

Police shot and killed a truck driver in Knoxville, Tenn., Tuesday after the driver allegedly fatally stabbed three women and hospitalized one other victim.

The trucker was identified as Idris Abdus-Salaam, 33, and was from North Carolina, according to Knox News.

The stabbing occurred at a travel stop just before 7 a.m. and left three women, Joyce Whaley, Patricia Denise Nibbe, and Nettie R. Spencer, dead.

The fourth victim, a customer at the store, remains hospitalized with unknown conditions, according to the report.

Police arrived at the scene and confronted Abdus-Salaam. After he reportedly refused to drop his weapon, police opened fire and pronounced the assailant dead.

The three deceased women were employed at the Pilot Company travel center near the highway.

CEO of Pilot Company Jimmy Haslam confirmed the victims were employees in a statement.

“Today is a difficult day for the Pilot Company family. We are devastated to confirm the loss of three team members and the injury of a guest after an act of violence at our Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, location this morning,” Haslam said. “It is with heavy hearts that we extend our deepest sympathy to the families and loved ones of the victims.”

The Pilot Company said they would work closely with authorities to uncover more details about the incident.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said they would launch a probe into the officer-involved shooting.