UPDATE (May 21, 2024, 4:30 p.m.): The victim from the deadly shooting that happened on Saturday morning in the 400 block of N. Broadway has been identified as Dennard Davis, age 37.
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UPDATE (May 20, 2024, 10:30 a.m.): The victim from the deadly shooting that happened on Saturday morning at Anderson Automotive has been identified as Claude Johnson, 55 of Mascot, Tennessee.
The victim from the deadly shooting that followed in the 400 block of N. Broadway has not yet been positively identified. Detectives are actively working to identify the victim in coordination with the Regional Forensic Center.
Robert Scruggs, 28, has been arrested and charged for both murders. His charges include first-degree murder and felony murder.
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UPDATE (Saturday, May 18, 2024, 5:10 p.m.): Robert Scruggs, DOB 8/5/95, has been charged in connection to the shootings that happened on Saturday morning at Anderson Automotive and in the 400 block of N. Broadway, respectively.
Scruggs, who was detained by officers who located the Kia that was stolen from the victim of the shooting at Anderson Automotive, has been charged with felony murder from the Anderson Automotive shooting and first-degree murder from the shooting that followed in the 400 block of N. Broadway.
Scruggs has also been charged with especially aggravated robbery, carjacking, business burglary and two counts of felony evading arrest.
The motive for the shootings is unknown at this time.
Scruggs is in custody and will be booked shortly.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the two members of our community who tragically lost their lives this morning,” Chief of Police Paul Noel said. “Our department is entirely committed to preventing violent crime and quickly removing those responsible for committing it from our streets. I am incredibly proud of the thorough, collaborative response of our dedicated officers and detectives to this morning’s shootings. Their efforts resulted in the almost immediate apprehension of a man now accused in two murders.”
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The Knoxville Police Department Homicide Unit is investigating two deadly shootings, strongly suspected of being connected, that happened near downtown Knoxville on Saturday morning.
At around 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, 2024, KPD officers responded to Anderson Automotive and Towing on Cooper Street to investigate a shooting with a victim. Officers arrived at the scene and found a man suffering from at least one gunshot wound. The victim was transported to the UT Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Based on the findings of the ongoing investigation, it is believed that the victim was responding to an alarm at the business when he encountered the suspect and was shot. The suspect then left the scene in the victim’s vehicle, a black Kia Sorento.
After officers initially arrived at the scene of the shooting at Anderson Automotive, they received a call concerning a gunshot victim in the 400 block of N. Broadway. Officers responded to the area and located a man who had been shot at least one time. The victim was transported to the UT Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Multiple possible witnesses were found on scene and are being interviewed by Homicide Unit detectives.
Detectives believe the shooting on N. Broadway is directly connected to the shooting that preceded it at Anderson Automotive.
In the course of the investigation, officers located the Kia that was stolen from the scene of the shooting at Anderson Automotive. Officers attempted to stop it but the driver did not stop. Officers lost sight of the vehicle in the Dandridge Avenue area but were able to locate it parked at a home on Morningside Drive. Officers found and detained the driver nearby. That individual is considered a person of interest in both shootings and is currently being questioned by Homicide Unit detectives.
Both investigations remain ongoing. An update will be provided when available.