Two individuals have been arrested in connection to the murder of 40-year-old Demetrius Bomar, who was shot and killed at a home on Lay Avenue on December 7, 2022.
Over the past 24 hours, Rodney Smartt, 22, and Ayla Gilbert, 24, were taken into custody on multi-count indictments, which includes charges of first-degree murder, aggravated robbery and especially aggravated kidnapping stemming from Bomar’s death.
Gilbert was located and arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Smoky Mountain Fugitive Task Force on Wednesday at a home on Dinwiddie Street. Smartt was located and arrested today in the Walter P. area by the Smoky Mountain Fugitive Task Force and members of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office’s Narcotics Unit and Retail Crime Unit.
Smartt was also found in possession of a stolen firearm.
“I appreciate all the hard work of the members of the Smoky Mountain Fugitive Task Force who put in long hours to remove this very violent and dangerous individual from our streets,” U.S. Marshal David G. Jolley said. “I also appreciate the assistance of the Knox County Narcotics Unit who provided a key piece of information that led to locating Smartt.”
The Smoky Mountain Fugitive Task Force members who were involved in the apprehension of Smartt and Gilbert included Anderson County Sheriff’s Office and Knox County Sheriff’s Office personnel.
The Knoxville Police Department is grateful to the U.S. Marshals, the Smoky Mountain Fugitive Task Force and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office for their extensive efforts to locate and apprehend these wanted and dangerous individuals.