Knoxville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) The Knoxville Police Department releases body camera footage Wednesday showing a deadly officer-involved shooting that happened in mid-April.
KPD officials say Officer Seth Beeler responded to an Exxon gas station at 5306 North Broadway around 5:30 p.m. on April 17. While there, a witness reportedly told Beeler that 41-year-old William Charles McBride Jr. was acting aggressively in the gas station and was armed with two knives.
KPD reports Beeler fired “at least once,” hitting McBride, who was taken in critical condition to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating the shooting while KPD’s Office of Professional Standards is conducting an internal investigation, as per KPD’s standard policy.
The full footage released by KPD, which is graphic in nature, can be viewed here . Viewer discretion is advised.
Beeler was placed on routine administrative leave after the shooting. At this time, there’s been no update from the TBI or KPD on his status.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE 5/2/24: Knoxville police have identified the victim of a fatal shooting late Tuesday night in the Morningside area.
Officers responded to the 1800 block of Prospect Place where they found the victim, 24-year-old Zackery Schwaller of Knoxville, who had been shot at least one time.
Schwaller was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
KPD says detectives are continuing to gather any and all pertinent evidence but that no suspects have been identified, arrested or charged at this time.
Anyone with information is being asked to call East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165.
The investigation is ongoing at this time.
ORIGINAL STORY: A man is dead after a shooting that happened late Tuesday evening.
Knoxville Police Department officials say officers responded to the 1800 block of Prospect Place in the Morningside area, where they found the victim, only identified as a man who had been shot at least once.
The man was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
At this time, there is no suspect, and officers are canvassing the area. Anyone with information is being asked to call East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A 17-year-old is facing an attempted first degree murder charge after firing shots into a North Knox County home.
Knox County Sheriff’s Office officials say deputies responded to the home on Paxton Drive Monday just after midnight. Five people were inside when the suspect fired shots, hitting two cars parked in the driveway and the building itself.
KCSO says detectives interviewed the teen who admitted to firing the shots.
He was taken into custody and faces numerous charges including attempted first degree murder, four counts of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment to an occupied dwelling, reckless endangerment by shooting from a moving car, felony vandalism and felony theft.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee women’s basketball standout Rickea Jackson has been selected as the TSWA Women’s College Basketball Player of the Year in the state, the Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced on Wednesday.
Jackson is the third player to earn the accolade as a Lady Vol, following in the footsteps of 2021 winner Rennia Davis and 2008 honoree Candace Parker. Destinee Wells, who now plays at UT, won the award in 2022 and 2023 as a Belmont Bruin before transferring to Rocky Top.
A 6-foot-2 forward, Jackson averaged 20.2 ppg. and 8.2 rpg. in 2023-24 to lead the SEC in scoring with the ninth-best single-season average in UT history. She earned AP/USBWA/WBCA All-America Honorable Mention, All-SEC First Team and Cheryl Miller Award finalist distinction before being selected No. 4 overall by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
She is one of only six Lady Vols to average 20+ points in a season along with Patricia Roberts (29.9), Chamique Holdsclaw (23.5, 21.3, 20.6), Cindy Brogdon (21.7, 20.1), Candace Parker (21.3) and Bridgette Gordon (20.8, 20.4).
During the NCAA Tournament, Jackson averaged 29.5 ppg. and 9.5 rpg. and shot 63.9 percent on field goals, 50 percent on threes and 91.7 percent on free throws. She produced 25.0 ppg., 10.0 rpg. and 3.2 apg. while hitting 46.5 percent vs. six ranked opponents.
Jackson overcame an early season leg injury to score in double figures 24 times in 25 games, including 13 occasions with 20 or more points and two of those above 30. The number of 20+ efforts increased her two-year total on Rocky Top to 29, which ranks as the fifth-best ever by a Lady Vol behind only program legends Chamique Holdsclaw (83), Bridgette Gordon (58), Candace Parker (48) and Tamika Catchings (37). All of those players except Parker (three) spent four seasons at Tennessee.
Her 19.6 ppg. career average at UT ranks fourth all-time behind Patricia Roberts (29.9, 1976-77), Cindy Brogdon (20.8, 1977-79) and Chamique Holdsclaw (20.4, 1995-99), and just ahead of Candace Parker (19.4).
Now a four-time All-America honorable mention selection, three-time All-SEC performer and two-time Cheryl Miller Award finalist, Jackson became the 46th Lady Vol taken in all WNBA Drafts and the 44th in drafts featuring only college players. She became the 21st Lady Vol taken in the first round (19th in college-only drafts) and gave UT first-round picks in four consecutive drafts for the first time in the program’s rich history.
Jackson tallied 1,176 points in only 60 games at UT, ranking No. 35 on a UT all-time scorer’s list that primarily features players who spent three or four seasons in Knoxville. Her 19.6 career average finished at No. 4 among Lady Vols, winding up behind only Patricia Roberts (29.9), Cindy Brogdon (20.8) and Chamique Holdsclaw (20.4) while finishing just ahead of Candace Parker and Jill Rankin (19.2).
For career point production, she generated 2,261 in 127 collegiate contests, ranking sixth among anyone who played at UT, including transfers. In 2023-24, she passed Tamika Catchings (2,113) and Candace Parker (2,137) and finished behind only Cindy Brogdon (3,204), Chamique Holdsclaw (3,025), Jill Rankin (2,851), Bridgette Gordon (2,462) and Patricia Roberts (2,447).
Multiple bills cracking down on street racing now sit on Governor Bill Lee’s desk and may soon become law here in Tennessee.
The first one makes street racing a more severe felony. A second would create a street racing task force where law enforcement and Mayors across the state would study street racing and come up with ways to stop it.
The Governor has nine days left to either sign the bills or veto them. If he does nothing they’ll automatically become law.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 3/3 Tennessee had its 15-game midweek win streak snapped on Tuesday night after a 9-6 loss to Lipscomb at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Vols jumped out to an early 4-1 lead after two innings but struggled in the middle frames as the Bisons scored six unanswered runs to take a 7-4 lead into the seventh.
Lipscomb (16-27) scored in four consecutive innings from the third to the sixth and added two more in the eighth after UT pulled within two runs after scratching across a run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Leadoff hitter Alex Vergara did a lot of the damage, going 3-for-4 with a double and two of the Bisons’ four home runs while third baseman David Coppedge also had a big night at the plate, going 4-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored.
Six of the seven pitchers that saw action for Tennessee allowed a run with Nate Snead being the lone hurler who posted a scoreless outing, striking out a pair over 1.2 hitless innings.
The duo of Blake Burke and Billy Amick provided the majority of the offense for the Vols, combining for five hits, three runs and three RBIs.
Burke drove in a pair with a two-out double in the second inning to spot UT an early three-run lead. Amick also had a double and hit his 17th home run of the year with a solo shot in the bottom of the ninth.
Lipscomb starting pitcher Ryan Kutz settled in after a rough start to get the win after pitching five innings, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks. Relievers Tanner Lyne and Collin Witzke pitched the final four innings, holding UT to two runs on four hits while striking out six.
STAT OF THE GAME: Tuesday night’s defeat snapped a 15-game winning streak in midweek games for the Big Orange. Their last midweek loss prior to Tuesday was a 12-5 setback against Tennessee Tech on April 18, 2023. UT was 11-0 on the year in midweek games entering the night.
UP NEXT: Tennessee (37-8, 15-6 SEC) will look to quickly put this one in the rearview and turn its attention towards an important SEC East showdown at Florida, which begins on Thursday night at 7 p.m. on ESPN2 in Gainesville.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – For the third time this season, the Southeastern Conference has named Karlyn Pickens its SEC Pitcher of the Week.
The right-hander made two appearances during Tennessee’s series at No. 17 Alabama – picking up a win and a no-decision.
In her start on Saturday night, the flamethrower carried a no-hitter through 5.1 innings with seven strikeouts and allowed just one free pass en route to her 17th win. The win clinched Tennessee’s eighth straight conference series victory – the longest SEC series win streak in program history.
Saturday’s victory was also Pickens’ 13th complete game this season and her 10th shutout of the year.
The Weaverville, North Carolina, native has now been recognized by the SEC for a weekly honor seven times in her career – four times as the SEC Pitcher of the Week.
The third-ranked Lady Vols play host to No. 24 Kentucky this Thursday-Saturday, May 2-4 as both teams close out the regular season.
Carrie Matthews, the girlfriend of Kenneth DeHart, Jr. has been indicted by the Sevier County Grand Jury on an accessory after the fact charge.
DeHart is charged in the death of Blount County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Greg McCowan and the shooting of Deputy Shelby Eggers. DeHart was stopped by Eggers, who later called for McCowan, while driving in February when the situation escalated, prompting DeHart to fire on both deputies and led police on a five day manhunt.
Matthews is accused of helping DeHart by warning him when police came to her home. She will be in court for an arraignment on May 6th.
Sevier County, TN (WOKI) A grand jury Monday indicts the girlfriend of the man accused of killing a Blount County Sheriff’s Office deputy during a traffic stop in February.
Carrie Matthews, the girlfriend of Kenneth DeHart, was indicted by the Sevier County Grand Jury on an accessory after the fact charge.
Matthews is accused of helping DeHart evade capture following the shooting death of Deputy Greg McCowan and the shooting of Deputy Shelby Eggers by warning him when police came to her home.
Matthews has been out of jail on a $350,000 bond with a requirement that she wear an ankle monitor.
She is due back in court for an arraignment on May 6.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A Knoxville middle school was placed on lockdown briefly Tuesday morning as Knoxville police investigated a crash involving a stolen car.
Knoxville Police Department officials say officers reportedly spotted the car and tried to stop it around 11:30 a.m. before the driver sped away, crashing in the parking lot of the Shoney’s in the 4000 block of Broadway.
KPD says multiple people ran from the car three of whom officers detained, but a fourth person could have gotten away.
Whittle Springs Middle School was placed on a brief lockdown during the incident.
