The Knoxville Police Department (KPD) continues its search for 20-year-old Robert Steed, a suspect in a recent shooting incident at a local gas station. As per WVLT, the shooting occurred on July 20 at the Shell gas station on Summit Hill Drive. Steed, who was reportedly shot during the altercation, is accused of firing multiple rounds at the location and is wanted for aggravated assault and reckless endangerment.
A second individual connected to the event, 23-year-old Dereke Upton, has already been charged with aggravated assault about the same incident, according to WATE. Reports detail that Upton was apprehended on the day of the shooting; following the gunfire, which began as an altercation between two men, one individual was struck in the leg and later treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Further noting Steed's alleged involvement, the KPD claims that he also fired at a home on Hazen Drive earlier that day. The department is actively urging the community to come forward with any details that could assist in locating Steed, reminding them of the possibility of providing anonymous tips through various platforms, such as calling Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165, online resources or using mobile applications, as outlined by WATE.
The urgency of this investigation is palpable as the KPD's efforts to piece together the day's events intensify. After the incident, "Community engagement response team officers quickly located Upton, who was identified as the suspect from the shooting, at a home on Laurans Avenue on Saturday evening while following up on investigative leads," according to WBIR. A $10,000 bond has been set for Upton. Meanwhile, the search for Steed continues, with authorities hoping for a swift end to this saga of violence unleashed on a quiet gas station corner.
