A fatal shooting has taken place in northwest Knoxville late Tuesday night, and the Knoxville Police Department Homicide Unit has been arduously investigating the details surrounding the incident. According to the KPD, the victim of the shooting, now identified as Carlos Cozart Yarbrough, a 41-year-old resident of Knoxville, was caught in gunfire around 10:15 p.m. near Minnesota Avenue and Pascal Drive.
The preliminary investigation reveals that Yarbrough was among a group of people in a parking lot at the 1900 block of Minnesota Avenue when a shooter, reportedly emanating from the shadows near dumpsters, fired into the assembly, Yarbrough was subsequently struck by the bullets and later succumbed to his injuries at the UT Medical Center. Police have indicated that the attack seems to be deliberate, but have found no evidence suggesting Yarbrough was the target.
As crime scene technicians and detectives continue to process the site for clues, law enforcement is calling upon the public for assistance. The detectives are reassessing surveillance footage and plan to canvass the area once more, searching for people who may have witnessed the shooting or who might possess information pertinent to the case. Officials from the Homicide Unit have made an appeal for witnesses to step forward and contact the East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165 or directly at the Homicide Unit at 865-215-7317, underscoring the vital importance of community collaboration in this ongoing search for justice.
At the moment, the Knoxville Police Department has not detained or charged any suspects in connection to the shooting, indicating the investigation is still in its nascent stages; they are urging anyone with relevant knowledge that might aid in unravelling this tragic event to come forward with information, which could be submitted anonymously, those contributing may also be eligible for a financial incentive for any tips leading to an arrest or resolution, the department's efforts remain singularly focused on piecing together the sequence of events that culminated in the untimely death of Carlos Cozart Yarbrough.
