The Knoxville Police Department has released the pertinent body-camera footage from the police shooting that happened in the 2600 block of Fairview Street last Tuesday.
Just before 1:15 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, Knox County 9-1-1 received multiple calls concerning an active disturbance involving a man armed with an axe. Minutes later, KPD officers Eric Smith and Alexandra Burns arrived at the scene and confronted the subject of that disturbance, who has since been identified as 52-year-old Christopher Arons. Arons was armed with a small axe.
After shots were fired, responding officers rendered medical aid until emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene and transported Arons to the UT Medical Center for further treatment. Arons is expected to recover from his injuries.
Arons has since been charged with two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of vandalism.
A link to the video can be found here: https://www.youtube.com.mcas.ms/watch?v=3wdmQjABoOI. The video release includes one of the 9-1-1 calls and body-camera footage that begins upon Officer Smith’s arrival at the scene. The video shows graphic images that could be disturbing to some viewers and viewer discretion is advised.
The shooting is being investigated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, per standard protocol, while the KPD’s Office of Professional Standards is also conducting an internal administrative investigation. Both of those investigations are still ongoing. Officers Smith and Burns remain on routine administrative leave.
Per department policy, in the event of a critical incident, the Office of Public Information in coordination with the Technical Services Unit and other appropriate department personnel, will immediately begin preparing a video of said incident for public release. The purpose of the video release is to inform the community of the circumstances that led to the incident in a timely fashion. The department strives to release critical incident video to the public as expeditiously as possible, in coordination with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
First-year head coach Kim Caldwell has confirmed that five highly-regarded high school players from the class of 2025 have signed Institutional Financial Aid Agreements to attend the University of Tennessee and represent the Lady Vol basketball program.
Making it official by submitting their paperwork were 5-foot-6 “Twin Backcourt” point guards Mia and Mya Pauldo of Denville, N.J., the first players to commit to Caldwell and her staff, as well as 6-foot-2 guard/forward Deniya Prawl of Toronto, the first-ever Canadian player to sign with the Big Orange, 6-0 guard Jaida Civil of Vero Beach, Fla., and 6-3 guard Lauren Hurst of Cleveland, Tenn.
Mia and Mya Pauldo are rated No. 11 and No. 56, respectively, in the espnW 100, while Prawl is the No. 14 ranked player by that organization, Civil checks in at No. 32 and Hurst is rated No. 42. The group represents Tennessee’s first signing class since 2017 with two or more top-15 prospects and the first with three rated among the top 35 since the Lady Vols inked three top-12 high school standouts en route to the nation’s No. 1 overall group in 2017.
Additionally, this marks UT’s first group with four top-50 rated signees since landing four in 2018 and its first class with five high school players inking paperwork since the program reeled in six scholarship players (all in the top 35) back in 2008.
As of Nov. 21, Tennessee’s current five-member class is ranked No. 1 by 247Sports and No. 2 by ESPN and World Exposure Report. It marks the first time the Lady Vols have been ranked in the top 10 by any organization since 2019 (No. 9/ESPN), in the top five since 2018 (No. 4/ESPN) and in the top two since 2017 (No. 1/ESPN). UT is the only school currently listed with five signees during the early signing period.
“From the time that these five young ladies came on their visits, it just felt right,” Caldwell said. “It felt like they were supposed to play here. They got along with our staff, and they got along with our players really well.”
Caldwell credited her staff with its efforts in signing one of the nation’s most dynamic classes despite being on campus a little over six months.
“I’m really proud of the staff’s hard work,” Caldwell said. “I think that we all came together and learned a lot in a short period of time. We had really great visits that were genuine and authentic, and we were just ourselves.
“I think we presented what our culture is in the best way we possibly could, and our staff just did a really good job of hitting the ground running, working and getting out on the road. We had some really good people in (on visits), and the class we signed is terrific. I can’t wait to get to work with them and see what they do together over their four years here. It’s going to be special.”
Caldwell also was complimentary of the role the current Lady Vols played in the recruiting process.
“Our team did a great job during recruiting visits displaying our team chemistry, and they were just themselves and authentic,” Caldwell said. “One of our biggest selling points is how genuine our team is, how well everyone gets along, how much they value basketball and winning, and what their goals are for Tennessee.
“I think for every visit we had, our team hit a home run, and they really sold that and connected with the players we had on campus.”
PLAYER BIOS & COMMENTS FROM COACH KIM CALDWELL
Caldwell’s Comments About Mia Pauldo
“Mia is a significant scorer. She can score at three levels. She is fast, she is scrappy and she is full of energy. Mia is the exact type of player I want — someone who can create a shot for herself as well as for others.”
Mia Pauldo’s Career Highlights
Rated No. 8 by World Exposure Report.
Ranked No. 11 in espnW 100 / 5-star / No. 4 point guard.
Rated No. 14 by On3 / No. 4 point guard.
Ranked No. 16 by 247Sports / 4-star / No. 3 point guard.
Rated No. 18 by ProspectsNation.com / 4.5-star / No. 3 point guard.
Ranked No. 26 by BlueStar Basketball.
Part of “Twin Backcourt” with sister Mya for Morris Catholic High School Crusaders.
The duo combined for 2,779 points, 818 assists, 713 rebounds and 503 steals in their first three seasons at Morris Catholic.
Through her junior year at MCHS, she logged 1,640 points, 444 assists, 402 rebounds and 272 steals.
Named the MaxPreps Player of the Year in New Jersey in 2023-24, averaging 19.9 points, 5.9 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 3.1 steals as a junior.
Shot 56 percent from the field with a high of 30 points in a 64-48 win over Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) in January 2024.
Reached Non-Public B state title game the first three years of her prep career, winning the last two championships.
MCHS won the Morris County Tournament three times.
Chose Tennessee over Baylor, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Rutgers to name a few.
Caldwell’s Comments About Mya Pauldo
“Mya is a very good three-point shooter, and she also can create a shot for herself and for her teammates. She’s incredibly scrappy, defensively. She and Mia both are, and that’s something that we need is two hard-nosed defenders who can press full court and still get steals in half court. They’ll be huge for us on both ends of the floor.”
Rated No. 54 by ProspectsNation.com / 4-star / No. 8 point guard.
Ranked No. 56 in espnW 100 / 4-star / No. 10 point guard.
Part of “Twin Backcourt” with sister Mia for Morris Catholic High School Crusaders.
The duo combined for 2,779 points, 818 assists, 713 rebounds and 503 steals in their first three seasons at Morris Catholic.
Mya has amassed 1,139 points, 374 assists, 311 rebounds and 231 steals in her career through her junior year.
Averaged 14.8 points, 4.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 2.9 steals as a junior in 2023-24.
Reached Non-Public B state title game the first three years of her prep career, winning the last two championships.
MCHS won the Morris County Tournament three times.
Chose Tennessee over Baylor, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Rutgers to name a few.
Caldwell’s Comments About Deniya Prawl
“Deniya is an all-around phenomenal athlete. She has the ability to have a great four years here and can come in and help us right away. She can shoot threes. She can shoot mid-range. She can score, and she can guard.”
Helped IMG advance to the 2024 Chipotle Nationals title game, chipping in 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting along with eight rebounds and four assists as her team fell to Montverde Academy, 61-53, and finished the season 23-4.
Played on Canadian 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup team, averaging 11.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.4 blocks in 27.2 minutes over seven games.
Led the team in rebounds and assists, and she had the third-highest efficiency on the team at 15.7.
Was a significant contributor as her nation took silver in that event, as she tallied 13 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in the gold medal game vs. United States.
Also played on 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup team for Canada, contributing 5.2 rebounds, 2.8 points and 1.8 assists to that squad’s fourth-place finish as one of its younger members.
Chose Lady Vols over Notre Dame and Baylor.
Caldwell’s Comments About Jaida Civil
“From the moment I saw Jaida play, I wanted to coach her. She is perfect for our style of play. She is a great full-court defender and can score from anywhere on the floor. She has an aggressive mindset that will instantly make us better.”
Named 2023-24 FLORIDA TODAY Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
Chosen to 2023-24 All-Space Coast First Team.
Selected as 2023-24 FACA 4A District 12 Player of the Year.
Averaged 14.2 ppg., 6.8 rpg., 5.1 apg. and 2.6 spg. while shooting 36 percent from three-point range at PBMHS as a junior.
Scored in double figures 19 times as a junior and dished out five or more assists on 15 occasions.
Helped Palm Bay Magnet to a 22-8 record and 2023-24 FHSAA Regional Final.
Chose UT over Miami, North Carolina and Florida State among others.
Caldwell’s Comments About Lauren Hurst
“Lauren is a great transition player who can play multiple positions for us. Her size, mixed with her skill set, separates her from others in her class and makes Lauren a great fit here. She is a wonderful person and already feels like family.”
Rated 4-star prospect by ProspectsNation.com as a wing.
Named TSWA All-State in 2023-24.
Selected 2023-24 Chattanooga Times-Free Press Scrappy Moore Female Athlete of the Year.
Averaged 14.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.7 blocks per game for the Blue Raiders on their way to the 2024 TSSAA Class 4A state semifinals.
Hit 44 percent from the field, 36 percent on threes and 80 percent at the free-throw line as a junior.
Put up 10.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.9 steals as a sophomore.
Participated in the 2024 USA Basketball Women’s U17 National Team Trials.
In addition to being the state’s highest ranked recruit in basketball, she has been a two-time Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year in volleyball as well.
(Story courtesy of KNOXVILLE, TN WVLT) – The City of Knoxville is offering many holiday events as we get ever closer to the most wonderful time of year.
The city hosts yearly activities for those looking to get into the holiday spirit, and 2024 is no exception.
NASSAU, Bahamas – The University of Tennessee men’s basketball team opened the Continental Tire Baha Mar Championship with a 64-42 victory Thursday night over Virginia.
Fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier paced all scorers with 26 points, including 18 in the final 18 minutes, for No. 11/9 Tennessee (5-0) at the Baha Mar Convention Center.
The Volunteers used an 11-2 run in 4:23, including eight straight points in just 1:52, to take a 17-10 lead with 7:17 on the first-half timer. They held Virginia (3-1) without a field goal for 6:21, a span that included 4:09 without a point.
Tennessee took an eight-point edge, 22-14, with 2:51 to go in the frame, but the Cavaliers scored the final seven points of the session, including a 3-pointer right before the buzzer, to make it a 22-21 ledger at the break. After being held to a 2-of-13 field-goal start with eight turnovers through 13-plus minutes, Virginia went 5-of-11 down with just one giveaway the stretch of the session. Neither side shot over 30.0 percent in the opening 20 minutes, but Tennessee had the edge in 3-point connections (four to two), while Virginia did so in free-throw makes (five to zero).
The Volunteers opened the second half on a 15-3 run to go ahead by a then-game-best 13 points, 37-24, with 13:06 to go. They got 11 straight points on four consecutive made field goals, including a trio of 3-pointers, from Lanier—that put him over 1,000 points as a collegian—to begin the surge, which also featured nine straight points in 2:46.
Virginia responded shortly thereafter with an 8-0 run in just 1:32—it also made four straight field goals after starting 8-of-30 through 27 minutes—to pull within five, 39-34, with 10:48 to go. However, the Volunteers quickly regained complete control.
Tennessee soon went on a dominant 18-0 spurt in just 5:16 to go ahead by a game-high 26 points, 64-38, with 1:43 to go. The stretch came during a period in which it limited the Cavaliers to 1-of-13 shooting, with eight misses in a row, after its four consecutive makes. The Volunteers held Virginia without a point for 6:22 and without a field goal for 7:06.
The Cavaliers scored the last four points, giving Tennessee a final margin of 22 points, its fourth consecutive victory by at least that many.
Lanier finished with 26 points, the most by a Volunteer this season, on 10-of-23 shooting, including a 6-of-12 long-range clip, and pulled down four rebounds. Senior forward Igor Miličić Jr., who spent his freshman year at Virginia in 2021-22, totaled 14 points and a game-high eight rebounds. He shot 5-of-10 from the floor, 2-of-3 beyond the arc and 2-of-2 at the line, plus dished out three assists.
Senior guard Jahmai Mashack filled the stat sheet with seven points, five rebounds, a career-high-tying four steals and two blocks. He also served as the primary defender on Virginia junior guard Isaac McKneely, who had just four points on 1-of-6 field-goal shooting after entering the night averaging a team-best 16.0 per game.
Sophomore guard Dai Dai Ames was the lone Cavalier to reach double figures, ending the contest with 12 points.
Tennessee limited Virginia to just 28.6 percent (14-of-47) shooting on the night, including a 27.6 percent (8-of-29) ledger from inside the arc. It also recorded a spectacular 30-2 margin in points off turnovers, forcing 18 and committing only seven. The Volunteers, for the third time in 2024-25, did not concede a fast-break point.
The 42 points for Virginia tied the second-lowest point total by a Power Six foe against Tennessee in head coach Rick Barnes‘ 10 years at the helm. Additionally, Tennessee went without a live-ball turnover for the third time in the last 20 seasons (2005-25), as the Cavaliers did not register a single steal.
The Volunteers are back in action Friday at 9:30 p.m. in the Continental Tire Baha Mar Championship title game against No. 13/14 Baylor, live on CBS Sports Network.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS POSTGAME NOTES • Thursday’s game started at 10:25 p.m., 55 minutes after its scheduled time, as the preceding Baylor/St. John’s contest went to double-overtime, and it ended Friday after midnight. • Barnes now possesses 180 victories over programs with a national championship, including 40 in his 10 years at Tennessee. • Barnes improved to 13-5 against ACC schools—based off the current membership—during his Tennessee tenure, including 12-2 versus all schools other than North Carolina. • The Volunteers moved to 123-101 all-time versus current ACC institutions, including 6-1 over the last four seasons (2021-25). • Competing at the Baha Mar Championship for the first time, the Volunteers improved to 8-2 all-time in the Bahamas, now possessing five straight wins, with each of the prior nine games coming in the prior 10 seasons at the Battle 4 Atlantis. • The Volunteers are now 11-10 across nine multi-team events in Barnes’ 10 years, including 8-5 outside the continental United States and 6-1 in the Bahamas. • Tennessee has now won its first five games of the season for the third time in the last six campaigns, joining 2019-20 (5-0) and 2020-21 (7-0). • As announced prior to tip-off, Tennessee played without sophomore guard Cameron Carr, who is out 4-6 weeks with a left thumb injury, and sophomore forward J.P. Estrella, who is continuing to be evaluated for a left foot injury. • The Volunteers are now 22-0 under Barnes when holding their opponents to 30.0 shooting or below, with this the 11th time it has achieved that feat against a Power Six foe. • In addition, this is the 17th time a Barnes-led Tennessee team has held its opponent under 29.0 percent shooting, with this the eighth time versus a Power Six team and the second—it has done so against both ACC schools it has played—in 2024-25. • Tennessee moved to 30-0 under Barnes when holding its opponent under 50 points, with this the 12th time it has held a Power Six team below that figure in his tenure. • Additionally, the Volunteers have now held their foe to 45 or fewer points 20 times under Barnes, including the ninth time against a Power Six team. • Virginia’s 42 points tied for the eighth-fewest by a Tennessee opponent in the Barnes era, including matching the second-lowest point total by a Power Six team, matching the mark at South Carolina on Jan. 7, 2023, and trailing just the 41 versus Georgia on Jan. 25, 2023. • Thursday marked the seventh time in the Barnes era the Volunteers have allowed 42 or fewer points and conceded a field-goal clip of 28.0 percent or below, including just the second time against a Power Six team, alongside a Jan. 7, 2023, outing at South Carolina. • The lone two other times in the past 20 years (2005-25) the Volunteers conceded zero steals were Feb. 26, 2015, against Vanderbilt and Feb. 26, 2008, at Vanderbilt. • Tennessee has won both its game against ACC foes this year by exactly 22 points, as it won at Louisville, 77-55, on Nov. 9. • Fifth-year senior guard Darlinstone Dubar, who missed the first four games of the season due to a personal matter, made his Tennessee debut with 15:00 on the first-half clock and 20 seconds later, on his first offensive possession, threw down a putback dunk, en route to finishing with four points and three rebounds. • Neither team scored for nearly the first three minutes, as Mashack put the first points on the board with 17:04 on the timer. • Lanier scored Tennessee’s first eight points of the second half, connecting on three straight shots to give him 16 in the game at that time, pushing his career total at 1,000, reaching that tally on a baseline jump-shot with 15:52 remaining. • For Lanier, Thursday marked the ninth 25-point showing of his career, including his first as a Volunteer. • Miličić has totaled at least 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists in each of the last three contests. • Senior guard Zakai Zeigler led all players with six assists, the 50th time in his career he has posted five-plus. • Senior guard Jordan Gainey pulled down seven rebounds, tying a career high he recorded five times during his tenure at USC Upstate, most recently on Dec. 20, 2022, at Kennesaw State.
Gatlinburg, TN (WOKI) A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for the Great Smoky Mountains for Thursday night into late Friday morning prompting a number of road and trail closures.
The advisory began Thursday at 4:00 p.m. and goes until 10:00 a.m. Friday.
Officials with the National Park Service say the following roads are impacted:
US 441/Newfound Gap Road between Gatlinburg and Cherokee at 2 p.m.
Laurel Creek Road at 6 p.m.
Cades Cove Loop Road at 6 p.m.
Foothills Parkway West at 6 p.m.
Upper Tremont at 6 p.m.
NPS officials say they will assess conditions Friday morning and make a decision whether or not to reopen.
A Winter Weather Advisory was issued for the Great Smoky Mountains for Thursday night into Friday. (Courtesy: GSMNP)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Thursday marked the grand opening of Liberty Place, a veteran-focused housing development in Knoxville.
Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC) headed up the project, which aims to give veterans an affordable place to live with support from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“Liberty Place provides safe and essential housing for veterans who need assistance to stabilize their life,” KCDC Executive Director and CEO Ben Bentley said. “It’s also important that these residents have the necessary resources to maintain that stability. Liberty Place not only provides a safe home, but also on-site supportive services to help ensure a successful transition to permanent housing.”
The complex also features 32 furnished units for veterans at risk of homelessness.
Project organizers are also taking supply donations for items like towels, sheets, cookware and more.
Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC) headed up the project, which aims to give veterans an affordable place to live with support from the Department of Veterans Affairs. (Courtesy: KCDC)
Kingston, TN (WOKI) A man is arrested after he was found sleeping in his 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air in the parking lot of a Weigel’s.
The Kingston Police Department says they received a complaint about the man at the Gallaher Road store.
They found Timothy Wright, “slumped over in the driver seat.”
Police say his license was suspended and there was a warrant out for his arrest for violation of probation.
They found a baggy that they believed had more than 14 grams of methamphetamine.
Wright was arrested and charged with violation of probation, driving on a suspended license, manufacture, deliver and sale of a controlled substance and driving while in possession of methamphetamine.
Officers responded to the Weigel’s on Gallaher Road after getting a tip a man was passed out in a car in the parking lot. (Courtesy: Kingston Police Department via Facebook)
UPDATE (11/21/24): KPD crash reconstruction investigators have determined that the man who was found deceased on a sidewalk in the area of Merchant Drive and Central Avenue Pike late Tuesday night was not struck by a vehicle.
Following a review of surveillance video from a nearby business, investigators verified that the victim was not struck by the vehicle that had crashed off of the roadway and the death was unrelated to that crash.
At this time, it is suspected that the deceased, a 37-year-old man, died of an overdose, pending a final determination by the Medical Examiner’s Office.
Original story: The Knoxville Police Department is investigating a possible but unconfirmed pedestrian fatality that happened late Tuesday night in the area of Merchant Drive and Central Avenue Pike.
At around 10:20 p.m. on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, KPD officers responded to the aforementioned location, where an adult man was found unresponsive on the sidewalk. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. In addition to KPD Crime Scene Technicians, Medical Examiner’s Office personnel responded to the scene but were unable to make a preliminary determination concerning cause of death.
Responding officers located a vehicle nearby that had crashed off of the roadway. The driver was detained at the scene and interviewed by KPD detectives and crash reconstruction personnel.
The investigation remains active and ongoing at this time.
Newport, TN (WOKI / WVLT) Nearly two months after historic flooding ripped through Newport, City Hall will soon be back serving the public.
After clearing out the mud, water and even animals, staff are officially moving back into the building with the goal to have everything back in working order by Thanksgiving.
City Hall operations have been conducted out of a gym since September. Officials are eager for the reopening to prove that their city can make it through this.
“We had this event, it’s awful, it’s tragic, it’s a disaster, but like the phoenix we’re going to rise, and City Hall getting open can set an example to everybody that we’re coming back,” city administrator J.D. Finchum said. “City Hall is open and things are getting back to normal.”
With City Hall nearly ready, the city is shifting its focus to the Newport Police Department. That station was also severely damaged to a point where they don’t know if it can be salvaged or will just need to be rebuilt.
The city of Newport continues to reopen nearly two months after historic flooding. (Courtesy: WVLT)
