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I've already seen some misinformation about Austin-East High School. While my colleagues work to confirm more details about today's shooting, I'm going to run through some facts about the gun violence that's been affecting the city and the school community https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/crime/2021/04/12/police-respond-reports-shooting-near-austin-east-high-school/7194244002/
Four current or recent Austin-East High School students, all Black teens, have lost their lives to gun violence this year. Those teens were killed in four separate shootings across six weeks from late January to mid-March.
None of those shootings occurred on school grounds.
None of those shootings occurred on school grounds.
Knoxville police have said they have found no reason to believe those shootings are related.
And it's too soon to say whether the shooting at the school today, in which a student was shot and the school resource officer was shot in the hip, may be tied to any previous shooting.
And it's too soon to say whether the shooting at the school today, in which a student was shot and the school resource officer was shot in the hip, may be tied to any previous shooting.
The rate of shootings here recently — especially shootings of kids — is not normal for Knoxville.
Fatal shootings spiked in many cities last year. Knoxville saw 37 criminal homicides in 2020, its highest annual figure in decades.
No victim was under 18. https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/crime/2021/01/13/knoxville-homicides-record-high-number-killings-2020/3946072001/
Fatal shootings spiked in many cities last year. Knoxville saw 37 criminal homicides in 2020, its highest annual figure in decades.
No victim was under 18. https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/crime/2021/01/13/knoxville-homicides-record-high-number-killings-2020/3946072001/
The numbers are high so far this year, too, and now children are dying.
Since the beginning of 2017, according to my data, a total of five people under 18 have been killed in shootings within Knoxville city limits.
Four of those five shootings have happened this year.
Since the beginning of 2017, according to my data, a total of five people under 18 have been killed in shootings within Knoxville city limits.
Four of those five shootings have happened this year.
The first happened Jan. 27. His name was Justin Taylor. He was 15 years old.
He died after being shot inside a vehicle at night, not close to the school. Police said it was accidental. Investigators quickly arrested a 17-year-old boy on a charge of criminally negligent homicide.
He died after being shot inside a vehicle at night, not close to the school. Police said it was accidental. Investigators quickly arrested a 17-year-old boy on a charge of criminally negligent homicide.
Then, Stanley Freeman Jr., 16, a basketball player and the second oldest of seven kids. A junior, he wanted to attend the University of Tennessee. He was driving home from school on a Friday afternoon, Feb. 12, when shots rang out. He was hit, then crashed https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2021/02/14/family-and-friends-gather-remember-knoxvilles-stanley-freeman-jr/4486050001/
Freeman's killing happened just south of the school, shortly after it let out.
Authorities arrested two teenage boys, 14 and 16. Police say they shot at Freeman multiple times before driving away in their own vehicle.
Here's a recent piece about the case https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/crime/2021/03/19/knoxville-teen-stanley-freeman-jr-shooting-suspects-might-tried-adults/4734437001/
Authorities arrested two teenage boys, 14 and 16. Police say they shot at Freeman multiple times before driving away in their own vehicle.
Here's a recent piece about the case https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/crime/2021/03/19/knoxville-teen-stanley-freeman-jr-shooting-suspects-might-tried-adults/4734437001/
4 days after Freeman's killing, Janaria Muhammad was fatally shot. Police found her outside the home where she lived Feb. 16. She was 16 and loved to dance.
Police have said little about this case. No arrests. Happened roughly a mile away from Austin-East
https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2021/02/19/coaches-and-friends-mourn-loss-janaria-muhammad/4491749001/
Police have said little about this case. No arrests. Happened roughly a mile away from Austin-East
https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2021/02/19/coaches-and-friends-mourn-loss-janaria-muhammad/4491749001/
On March 9, a woman found Jamarion Gillette, 15, bleeding near a hospital. He died there overnight. Police haven't said where in the city they believe he was shot. No arrests.
Gillette was enrolled at Austin-East but hadn't been to school lately. More: https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2021/03/28/knoxville-teen-rapper-lil-dada-killed-gun-violence-wore-two-masks/4646374001/
Gillette was enrolled at Austin-East but hadn't been to school lately. More: https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2021/03/28/knoxville-teen-rapper-lil-dada-killed-gun-violence-wore-two-masks/4646374001/
This year already had been unspeakably hard for AE students, families, friends, and school officials. Today's news is heartbreaking for this community and this city.
@knoxnews is now reporting a teenage boy was killed, the officer hurt. Updates here: https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/crime/2021/04/12/police-respond-reports-shooting-near-austin-east-high-school/7194244002/
@knoxnews is now reporting a teenage boy was killed, the officer hurt. Updates here: https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/crime/2021/04/12/police-respond-reports-shooting-near-austin-east-high-school/7194244002/
New: Director of @TBInvestigation says Knoxville police officers responded to the school to find a student in a restroom with a gun, that the student "reportedly fired shots, striking an officer," and that an officer returned fire. Student pronounced dead at scene. No arrests.
Officer was shot in "upper leg" and is in "serious" condition.
TBI Director David Rausch stressed that this is all "preliminary information."
Knoxville Police Department officers recently were equipped with body cameras, so there should be video footage. https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/crime/2021/04/08/knoxville-police-new-body-and-cruiser-cameras/7063757002/
TBI Director David Rausch stressed that this is all "preliminary information."
Knoxville Police Department officers recently were equipped with body cameras, so there should be video footage. https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/crime/2021/04/08/knoxville-police-new-body-and-cruiser-cameras/7063757002/
