Five years after 20-year-old Martaysha Flack was found shot in a parked car at Holston Oaks Apartments, Knoxville police are again asking the public for help solving her killing.
Flack was discovered in the parking lot of the east-side complex on July 28, 2021, suffering from at least one apparent gunshot wound inside a vehicle. She died at the scene. The case remains open.
KPD Recounts the 2021 Holston Oaks Shooting
According to the Knoxville Police Department, officers were called to reports of gunfire at Holston Oaks around 5 p.m. on July 28, 2021. When they arrived, they found Flack inside a car with at least one apparent gunshot wound. Another man was also located with injuries that were described as non-life-threatening.
Major Crimes detectives, crime-lab personnel and the medical examiner all responded to the scene as investigators opened the case, which is still listed among the department’s active, unsolved investigations.
The killing is also featured on the East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers site. There, officials note that Flack’s death came just 11 days after the fatal shooting of her cousin, Chaka Sligh, and only months after another relative was killed. Crime Stoppers urges anyone with information to come forward anonymously.
Anniversary Video Renews Call for Tips
On July 28, 2026, five years to the day since the shooting, Knoxville police shared a short reel on social media highlighting Flack’s unsolved case and repeating their plea for information. The clip is available on Knoxville Police Department.
Early coverage described a chaotic scene at the apartment complex and noted that there were no suspects in custody at the time, as reported by WVLT.
How to Help
Investigators say they still need someone who knows what happened to step up.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Knoxville Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit at (865) 215-7317 or email [email protected]. Anonymous tips can be submitted to East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477 or using the P3 Tips app. Contact details are listed by the City of Knoxville. Tips that lead to arrests may be eligible for cash rewards.
Five years on, Flack’s family and detectives are still waiting for answers and hoping the renewed attention shakes loose a crucial lead. Initial reporting by WVLT and the city’s ongoing unsolved-murder listings from the City of Knoxville lay out the timeline and details investigators say could be key to closing the case.
