Update on Gilbert Lane Homicide Investigation (Saturday, April 6, 9:30 p.m.)

The victim of the April 5th homicide at 3206 Gilbert Lane has been identified as Danishka Sibaja Mejia, 22 of Knoxville.

One day prior to her death, on April 4, Mejia reported that she was the victim of a sexual assault at a home in the 600 block of Walker Street in West Knoxville, naming 39-year-old Latawyne Osborne as the suspect.

On April 5, while officers were on scene investigating Mejia’s death, Osborne arrived at the UT Medical Center to receive treatment for non-life-threatening gunshots wounds. Upon his release, Osborne was questioned by Homicide Unit detectives.

After continued investigation, Osborne was charged with rape, stemming from Mejia’s April 4th report.

Homicide Unit detectives questioned Osborne in reference to Mejia’s death. The investigation into her death remains ongoing at this time.

Osborne remains in custody at the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility.

On Friday afternoon, KPD Special Operations Squad personnel conducted a search warrant at the home where the sexual assault is alleged to have occurred on Walker Street, detaining multiple individuals for further investigation that is potentially relevant to the ongoing homicide investigation.

ORIGINAL NEWS RELEASE

A murder investigation is underway after Knoxville Police Department Homicide Unit detectives responded to a home in south Knoxville early Friday morning.

At around 1:15 a.m. on Friday, April 5, 2024, KPD officers were dispatched to a home in the 3200 block of Gilbert Lane.

Officers arrived on scene and found a 22-year-old woman dead inside the home. The cause of death is unknown at this time and pending the findings of the Regional Forensic Center autopsy. Officers also located a man and woman, both age 23, inside the home who had been shot. Neither victim’s injuries are expected to be life-threatening.

Sometime in the course of the investigation, another man, age 39, arrived at an area hospital to be treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. That individual, who is a person of interest in the Gilbert Lane investigation, was treated and released. He is currently being interviewed by Homicide Unit detectives.

It is believed the entire incident occurred inside of the Gilbert Lane home, where officers found multiple spent shell casings.

The investigation remains ongoing and in the early stages. The information provided is preliminary and subject to change as the investigation progresses. Updates will be provided when available.