A recent brush with violence on Noes Chapel Road has resulted in multiple charges for two individuals. On Monday, an incident escalated into an alleged targeted shooting, followed by a vehicular pursuit, and the eventual apprehension of Gabriel Brown, 21, and Brianna Sloan, 26, a statement from the Hamblen County Sheriff's Office revealed
According to the victim, Tyrone Smith of Morristown, he, along with a female passenger and a one-year-old child, was driving when another car came up from behind. Brown, the passenger of that pursuing vehicle, allegedly began discharging a firearm in the direction of Smith's car. Smith and his passengers were unscathed, and Smith's vehicle sustained no damage. In an attempt to confront or possibly identify the aggressors, Smith reportedly tried to follow Brown and Sloan onto Highway 160 and called 911, triggering a response from local law enforcement.
The chase, led by Jefferson County Deputies, concluded with the suspects' vehicle crashing. Both Brown and Sloan required medical attention at Jefferson Memorial Hospital and were later arrested. At the crash site, officers found a Polymer 80 9mm handgun, multiple ski masks, and other items, which were linked to Brown and Sloan. The gun, of particular interest to the authorities, lacked a serial number, a detail posted by the Hamblen County Sheriff's Office.
Following medical clearance, the duo faced charges for felony evading and drug offenses. Detectives also located two 9mm shell casings at the original shooting scene in Hamblen County, which led to additional charges against Brown and Sloan for Aggravated Assault and Reckless Endangerment, each count reflecting the three individuals endangered in Smith's vehicle. Brown has also been charged with Felony in Possession of a Firearm in the Commission of a Dangerous Felony. "Further charges are pending," Det. Sgt. Justin Kitts stated.
Hamblen County Sheriff Chad Mullins expressed his gratitude towards the collaborative effort between his office and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in the pursuit of justice and safety. "I commend the quick response and the actions of the deputies and investigators with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office," Mullins said. "This is just another example of how law enforcement agencies working together can get dangerous individuals and illegal firearms off the streets." Such inter-agency cooperation is a cornerstone of local law enforcement's strategy to manage and mitigate violent crime in the community, as per Hamblen County Sheriff's Office.
