Juvenile Killed In Clay County Shooting, Suspect Arrested

A Monday morning shooting in Clay County claimed the life of a juvenile and left two adults injured.

Authorities said the alleged shooter fled the scene on foot and was arrested after a two hour manhunt. Authorities declined to identify the suspect during an afternoon press conference.

Clay County Sheriff Brandon Boone said the shooting was unexpected but commended the help provided by area authorities.

“This is not normal for this area. I’d like for people to keep the family, our officers, and first responders in their thoughts and prayers,” Boone said. “Had it not been for the surrounding agencies… this wouldn’t have worked as quickly as it did.”

According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the shooting happened at a home on North Fork Road.

TBI spokeswoman Susan Niland said a school bus driver went to the home for a routine stop and found a wounded woman and uninjured juvenile. The bus driver transported the victims to Mount Vernon Fire Department and called 911.

Authorities responded to the scene and located an adult male suffering from gunshot wounds outside the home and a deceased juvenile inside the home. The adult victims are receiving treatment at Vanderbilt Medical Center. Their identifies have not been released.

Niland said the shooter was believed to have been staying on the property while doing some work for the male resident.

Boone said he also commends the actions of the bus driver for possibly saving two lives during the incident.

“After being there for just a few minutes, [the bus driver] pulled the uninjured kid and the injured adult female away from the scene,” Boone said, “pulled them to the Mount Vernon Fire Department, and stayed here until the ambulance and officers could get here to them.”

District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway said charges are pending against the suspect.

“I certainly anticipate some sort of criminal homicide,” Dunaway said. “Criminal homicide is anything from first-degree murder or second-degree murder to manslaughter. I anticipate bringing a charge in that category. When we learn more of the facts we’ll be able to determine which one is most appropriate.”

Dunaway said authorities will continue to investigate the scene and will release more information once it becomes available.

“The focuses by the investigators and other law enforcement agencies is investigating the circumstances of the crime,” Dunaway said. “We don’t want to announce anything that is not accurate, so we really need to wait as that investigation progresses until we gather the facts and will be able to release that to the public. The investigation is ongoing and they are working very diligently.”

TBI officials will announce more information regarding the case when it becomes available in the near future.