Gatlinburg Space Needle (Courtesy: Web / gatlinburg.com)
Gatlinburg, TN (WOKI) An investigation is underway in Gatlinburg after a man jumps to his death from the Space Needle.
Gatlinburg fire and police departments responded around 4:20 p.m. Wednesday to a report that a person jumped from the iconic tourist destination.
Gatlinburg Police Department officials say its Investigations Division was dispatched after a man’s body was discovered on the sidewalk below the Space Needle. Investigators say witness statements and video evidence confirmed the man did jump from the observation deck of the structure, resulting in an apparent suicide.
The incident remains under investigation by the Gatlinburg Police Department.
The Gatlinburg Police Department encourages that if you or someone you know is struggling or in a crisis, help is available. Individuals seeking help can dial or text 988 for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or visit 988lifeline.org. The Gatlinburg Police Department and its staff are also available for those struggling or in a crisis and may be reached at 865-436-5181.
KPD identifies victim in deadly shooting outside of Knox Rail Salvage on Depot Street (Courtesy: WVLT)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knoxville Police have now identified the victim in a deadly shooting that happened near the Old City while the search for the suspect continues.
That shooting happened Wednesday afternoon outside of the Knox Rail Salvage on Depot Street.
KPD found 51 year-old Christopher Hill of Knoxville, who’d been shot at least once, lying next to a box truck. Hill was pronounced dead at the scene.
Efforts remain ongoing to identify the suspect who police say drove off before officers arrived. Officials say Homicide Unit detectives are working active leads.
Police are urging anyone who potentially witnessed the shooting or with information that could assist detectives to contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165. Tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible to receive a cash reward.
Jefferson County man, Bart Gore, 51, arrested on felony charges for Jan. 6 Capitol breach (Courtesy: Department of Justice)
Dandridge, TN (WOKI) A Jefferson County man is arrested Tuesday on felony and misdemeanor charges related to the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots.
Officials with the U.S. Department of Justice say 51 year-old Bart Gore of Dandridge entered the Capitol Building on January 6 along with other people rioting over the result of the 2020 presidential election that Donald Trump lost. He was caught on several videos entering the building; investigators also said they had obtained messages Gore sent about attending the riots, some of which spoke of harming former president Barack Obama and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton.
Gore also stated on social media and in messages that he had bought a mouth guard and wasp spray for the event. According to the DOJ, he also stated he was bringing a rifle. Other messages showed Gore mentioning how he went inside the building and got tear gassed.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Knoxville and Washington offices.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Thursday the Tennessee Disability Coalition revealed it downgraded the state’s score from a D+ to a D in year two of its disability scorecard.
The Tennessee Disability Coalition is a culmination of other organizations that promote “full and equal participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of life.” It offers programs that help people with disabilities find jobs, training for families of people with disabilities and more.
The organization says the state failed to improve in multiple categories, leading it to downgrade the state’s score. According to the coalition, the state received a failing score for a lack of policies, practices, opportunities and outcomes for residents with disabilities.
Additionally, the state scored a C or worse in employment, aging, family caregiving support, affordability of care, transportation, mental health access, housing and employment.
The state scored an incomplete in education but scored an A- in early intervention.
WVLT News reached out to Gov. Bill Lee’s office for a statement on the scorecard but did not hear back. Story courtesy of WVLT
A Mom and Dad are in custody after the Department of Children’s Services and police found their home was unsuitable for children after numerous rats were found running around the home, trash piled up to waist high in some areas and feces covering the toilet.
33 year-old Johnathan Lethco and 29 year-old Amanda White are charged with child abuse and their children, aged ten, six, four and two were removed from the home along with the family dog, who was malnourished.
Police say in addition to the unsanitary conditions, they found drug paraphernalia and the home itself has structural issues.
Knoxville Police are searching for a suspect in a deadly shooting that happened near the Old City.
It happened yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon outside of the Knox Rail Salvage on Depot Street.
KPD found a man who’d been shot at least once next to a box truck. He died at the scene. Police say the suspect drove off before officers got there and investigators say the shooting was targeted and not random.
Anyone with information is being asked to contact KPD.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office says 34 year-old Kyle Dixon was last seen on Saturday afternoon. He was wearing a black jacket and jeans and left Brantley Drive in West Knoxville on a motorcycle. His friends filed a missing persons report because they fear for his safety.
If you have any information you are asked to contact KCSO.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Four consecutive home games against Florida, Alabama, Kentucky and Mississippi State and a September road trip to Oklahoma highlight the 2024 Tennessee football schedule, which was unveiled by the Southeastern Conference on Wednesday night.
The Vols’ 2024 opponents were announced in June following the establishment of a one-year schedule as part of the expanded 16-team SEC. In the one-year schedule, SEC teams will play eight conference games plus one required opponent from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 or major independent during the 2024 season.
Tennessee hosts Chattanooga in its season opener on Aug. 31 before embarking on a trip to Charlotte for the Duke’s Mayo Classic against NC State on Sept. 7 in Bank of America Stadium. That game was previously announced last March. The Vols then take on Kent State for the first time on Sept. 14 in Neyland Stadium.
Tennessee opens SEC play on the road against new league member Oklahoma on Sept. 21. It will be the first meeting between the two teams in Norman since Sept. 13, 2014. The two were set to meet in Norman in 2020, but that contest was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In September 2022, the SEC directed UT to postpone its 2024 home non-conference game against the Sooners as they transition to the SEC.
Three of the Vols’ first five games are away from Neyland Stadium as UT continues league play at Arkansas on Oct. 5 following an open date.
October’s Neyland Stadium slate features an epic four-game stretch, including back-to-back showdowns versus Florida (Oct. 12) and Alabama (Oct. 19). It’s the first time since 2014 that the Vols and Gators meet in October. Meanwhile, the matchup with the Crimson Tide remains on its traditional “Third Saturday in October.”
Following an Oct. 26 open date, Tennessee turns the page to November when Kentucky (Nov. 2) and Mississippi State (Nov. 9) visit Neyland Stadium for SEC tilts.
The Vols will play Georgia in the month of November for the fourth straight season on Nov. 16 in Athens.
Tennessee steps out of SEC play for its home finale vs. UTEP on Nov. 23 before closing the regular season at Vanderbilt for the ninth time in 10 years on Nov. 30 in Nashville.
ESPN platforms are the exclusive home for all SEC sports starting in July 2024.
The 2024 season eliminates divisions, and the SEC Championship Game will feature the top two teams in the SEC standings at the end of the regular season. The 2024 SEC Championship Game will air live on ABC on Dec. 7, 2024, in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Tennessee will carry a streak of 13 consecutive sellouts into the Chattanooga opener. The 2023 season saw Neyland Stadium lead the SEC in both average attendance (101,915) and accumulated attendance (713,405). Those stellar marks also ranked fourth and third in the nation, respectively.
Blount County man pleads guilty to tax fraud (Credit: Frankly Media)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A Blount County man has pleaded guilty to tax fraud and is ordered to pay thousands of dollars in restitution.
Officials with the Tennessee Department of Revenue say Bruce Martin Lemanski, a former bookkeeper for Art of Cakes in Maryville, did not report taxable sales at the business.
“It is a felony for retailers to collect sales tax from the public and then fail to remit it to the state,” Revenue Commissioner David Gerregano said. “It is a breach of the public trust, and the Department of Revenue will never quit pursuing criminal sanctions to provide accountability for these actions.”
Lemanki has been ordered to pay $70,629.78 in restitution and will see one year of probation.
Jason Sullivan, 45 and Shalena Wells, 39 (Courtesy: JIMS)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Two people are now facing charges after police found them asleep in a car with drugs, a gun and a small child.
Knoxville Police Department officials say the incident happened around 6:00 a.m. Monday when officers responded to an address on Merchant Drive to find 39 year-old Shalena Wells and 45 year-old Jason Sullivan asleep in a Hyundai Accent. When they woke Sullivan up and he stepped out of the car, a “clear crystal like substance” fell out of his lap.
Officers also found a glass pipe, a cut straw and a .38 Smith and Wesson revolver. Police said they believed that the two had methamphetamine and cocaine in the car. According to police, the gun was in a black bag situated next to a child in the back seat.
Both Sullivan and Wells were charged with child abuse. Sullivan, a convicted felon, is also facing a weapons charge, and Wells was charged with several drug charges.
