Blog: KPD News & Alerts

Fatal Shooting at 2239 MLK Jr. Avenue; Suspect Arrested and Charged

At around 8:28 p.m. on Thursday, May 20, 2021, Knoxville Police Department officers responded to 2239 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue on the report of a shooting with victim. Upon officer arrival, a 28-year-old male was located in the parking lot of the apartment complex suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to the UT Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased shortly after his arrival.

Witnesses stated that the suspect fled the scene in a dark-colored BMW. Shortly after the shooting, responding officers located the suspect vehicle and stopped it at the Weigel’s on Summit Hill. The occupants of the vehicle were detained for further investigation by the Violent Crimes Unit.

Following those investigative efforts, one of the occupants, 57-year-old Ralphelle James, was identified as the suspected shooter. James is charged with first-degree murder and firearm-related charges.

Posted by serland On 21 May, 2021 at 12:26 AM