A quiet stretch of Jan Lynn Street in Kenton turned into the scene of a nightmare on Saturday when officers discovered two children dead and their mother critically injured inside a home, authorities said. The case has triggered a full-scale criminal investigation, with state agents brought in to back up local police. No arrests have been announced and investigators have not identified a suspect, leaving the tight-knit northwest Tennessee town stunned and searching for answers.
According to WREG, the victims were 11-year-old Mckenna Young and 1-year-old Landrie Harris. Both were found with apparent gunshot wounds inside the house on the 300 block of Jan Lynn Street. Their mother was discovered with stab wounds and rushed to Regional One medical center in Memphis, where she remains in critical condition, the outlet reported. Agents were called in at the request of 27th Judicial District Attorney General Colin Johnson to assist the Kenton Police Department and the Obion County Sheriff's Office, WREG added.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has taken the lead in the case and is working with local officers to process the scene and sort through evidence, as reported by WBBJ. Investigators have declined to offer a public timeline for the probe and say they are methodically collecting and reviewing information. Authorities are asking residents to steer clear of rumors and speculation while the work continues.
Kenton Mayor Danny Jowers called the incident “a horrific event” and asked the community to keep the families in their prayers. “It is a crime scene that my officers of KPD as well as other first responders will never be able to ever forget,” Jowers said in a written statement, according to WBBJ. He requested that media direct questions to the TBI while agents continue their work.
How to help investigators
Authorities are urging anyone with information that could help the case to contact the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Tips can be submitted through the TBI hotline at 1-800-TBI-FIND or through the agency's online contact channels listed by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Community members can also share potential leads with the Obion County Sheriff's Office.
What happens next
The 27th Judicial District attorney's office will review the TBI's findings to decide whether charges should be filed, local officials said. As of Saturday night, investigators had not announced any arrests. In violent crime cases, the TBI typically coordinates its evidence review closely with local prosecutors. Officials say more details will be released as the investigation moves forward.
