A tragic incident unfolded on the westbound lanes of Interstate 640 near Millertown Pike yesterday afternoon when a man suffered a fatal gunshot wound inside a moving car. In an update provided to WBIR, the Knoxville Police Department (KPD) confirmed that the shooting, which occurred around 5:40 p.m., resulted in the victim being rushed to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
Responding officers had discovered the vehicle stopped on the right shoulder of the interstate. The scene attracted multiple police cruisers and led to lane closures, causing traffic to bottleneck near Interstate 40. A KPD spokesperson conveyed to WVLT that initially, it was reported as an accidental shooting. Authorities detained all individuals involved at the scene for questioning. No charges have been filed yet, and the investigation is ongoing.
The identity of the deceased man has not been released, respecting the sensitive nature of these early stages in the investigation. KPD believes that the shooting was accidental, stemming from another occupant in the vehicle who unintentionally discharged a firearm.
