Madisonville (WVLT) -- A man is dead after what the TBI calls a "suicide-by-cop" in Monroe County.

Monroe County deputies say John K. Adams, 42, stabbed three people and was later shot by officers after he charged at them with a weapon.

Strangely it was Adams pastor who says he wanted deputies to kill him.

"I think what you have is a guy that just snapped," said Pastor Joe Brown of the Church of Life in Madisonville.

Monroe County Sheriff's deputies say it started around 5:00 AM when Adams stabbed three people at 2248 Old Highway 68 in Madisonville.

After leaving the home, he called Pastor Brown.

"He told me he stabbed three people and that he would do all he could,” the pastor said. “He was going to force the police to kill him.”

Shortly after the call, deputies got word that Adams was at the County Line Tavern.

When they arrived on scene, they said he was armed and uncooperative.

“Officers used an intermediate weapon, a taser, to try to disarm the assailant," said Monroe County Sheriff Bill Bivens.

After being stunned, Adams continued to be uncooperative and charged at officers with the weapon.

That’s when officers fired the rounds that killed him.

“He has a prison record and he did not want to go back to prison," said Pastor Brown who admitted that Adams was having problems in his personal life. “He has been very upset and distraught over the divorce earlier this year. While we've tried to encourage him it's over and it's done, he's continued to be focused on it."

Brown says Adams told him the victims were his ex-wife Bonnie and another couple he didn't know.

"This is a sad time and our heart felt sorrow goes out to the victims, the victims' family, suspects family, and the officers involved,” said Sheriff Bivens. “At this time we ask for everyone’s prayers."

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has not confirmed the names of the victims.

They say they are waiting until their families are notified.

Pastor Brown confirmed one of the victims was the suspect's former wife, Bonnie who is in stable condition at UT Medical Center.

The other two victims were a couple staying with her.

They are in critical condition.