Chaos erupted in Lauderdale County on Tuesday as deputies responded to a shooting incident. According to the official social media release by Sheriff Brian Kelley of the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office, the first scene unfolded on Highway 19 E where two adult males were discovered with gunshot wounds, one hit in the right shoulder and the other in the left leg.
The investigation quickly evolved as officers on scene were alerted to more shootings in Ripley, involving a vehicle that matched the initial call's description. Prompt actions by deputies led to locating and stopping a suspect vehicle in the Lauderdale County Hospital parking lot, where they came face to face with Dedreck Campbell, a Haywood County resident with an outstanding domestic assault warrant. "Deputies came in contact and identified the driver as Dedreck Campbell of Haywood County, TN," the sheriff's office communicated.
Upon apprehending Campbell, law enforcement discovered he was armed with an AK-47 style pistol, loaded with 5.56/223 caliber rounds, the same type that was believed to have been used in the shootings. Currently, Campbell is detained at the Lauderdale County Jail. He faces serious allegations including "two counts of Attempted First Degree Murder and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission or Attempt to Commit a Dangerous Felony," as stated in the sheriff's office post.
While Campbell's custody marks a critical development in the case, the sheriff's office underscores that the investigation is nowhere near conclusion. "The investigation is ongoing, and Campbell may face additional charges as it progresses," the release notes, pointing to a potentially intricate chain of events yet to be fully unraveled. It's a somber reminder that, "All persons involved are innocent until found guilty by a court of law."
