Blog: KPD News & Alerts

KPD pursuit involving shooting suspects - Cedar Lane

Update on pursuit involving shooting suspects (April 20, 2020, 9:15 a.m.)

The two individuals who were arrested following the pursuit that ended in a single-car crash near the intersection of East Inskip and Fennel at around 10 p.m. on Thursday, April 16 have been identified as Larry Bell (DOB: 1/14/94) and Verdell Lovett (DOB: 12/19/95), both of Detroit, Michigan.

Bell was charged with Simple Possession, Evading Arrest, Reckless Driving, Fugitive from Justice, Criminal Impersonation, Financial Responsibility and Driving Without a License. Bell had a warrant out of Georgetown, Kentucky for Failure to Appear in connection to heroin trafficking charges, and intentionally provided a false name after fleeing from officers. He was booked into the Knox County Detention Center on Saturday, April 18 after being released from the UT Medical Center.

Lovett was charged with Simple Possession.

The KPD Violent Crimes Unit is continuing to actively investigate any involvement the two suspects had in previous incidents in Knoxville, and that investigation is ongoing.

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At approximately 10 pm, on Thursday, April 16, KPD Officers attempted to stop a vehicle in the Cedar Lane area of North Knoxville. The occupants were suspected of being involved in two possible shootings that occurred in the South Knoxville area. One being just minutes prior on Fisher Lane and the other one occurring earlier in the day at Anita Drive near Cottrell Street. The vehicle refused to stop and a pursuit was initiated. The pursuit continued for a few miles before the suspect lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree before coming to a stop. The officers were able to take a passenger into custody but the driver had to be freed from the vehicle with the assistance of KFD. A loaded firearm was located inside the vehicle. The driver was taken to UTER for treatment of what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries. No other vehicles or persons were involved or injured in the crash as it was a single-vehicle crash.

KPD Violent Crims Unit is still actively investigating the possible connections to the earlier shootings and any relationships. Both driver and passenger had Detroit, MI addresses the same as the suspect in the earlier shooting media release. Charges are pending for the driver and the passenger was charged with weapons and drug charges and possible other charges are pending as well. As the investigation is on-going no names are being released.

Posted by serland On 20 April, 2020 at 9:23 AM