A former employee has been convicted of first degree murder after a violent confrontation that led to the death of his former employer. Daniel Scott Arwood, 39, received a life sentence with no possibility of parole for at least fifty-one years, according to a press release from the Knox County District Attorney's Office.
The jury heard, in a trial that spanned four days, that the confrontation occurred at a school bus transportation facility on February 5, 2024. Arwood had been recently fired and was ordered to vacate a room in the warehouse provided by his former boss, the victim. Witnesses described an interaction in the parking lot where Arwood fatally shot the victim after a brief exchange of words. He subsequently attempted to quickly flee the scene, engaging in a high-speed pursuit that ended with his arrest with the help from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit.
During the trial, Assistant District Attorneys Jeannine Guzolek and Jordan Murray laid out the details of the crime. According to the District Attorney's Office, Arwood and the victim were seen talking before Arwood produced a shotgun, shooting the victim twice. Despite an attempt to escape, the victim was shot a third time and succumbed to the injuries.
Following the conviction, District Attorney Charme Allen praised the collaborative effort of the law enforcement agencies involved. "I am proud of the team effort that came together to apprehend this individual and bring him to justice," she said. Arwood still faces sentencing for the Evading Arrest count, which is expected to be handed down on July 2. The press release noted the assistance of Assistant Victim Witness Coordinator Kim Strike and Legal Secretary Connie Watts in the prosecution of the case.
