An 18-year-old Knoxville man is behind bars after police say a Tuesday night shooting on James Avenue left a 19-year-old from Alcoa with an upper-body wound and a long list of questions for detectives.
Officers identified the suspect as Tyler Maffett, who is now charged with attempted murder in connection with the incident. The victim was rushed to UT Medical Center, where he was treated for what authorities described as non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators say the case is still very much active.
What police say
According to the Knoxville Police Department, officers were called around 10:45 p.m. Tuesday after a woman dialed 9-1-1 to report that her boyfriend had been shot and was being driven to the hospital rather than waiting for an ambulance.
The KPD Homicide Unit picked up the case and spent the next day working to track down a suspect. By Wednesday, investigators had identified 18-year-old Maffett as the alleged shooter in the 1000 block of James Avenue. Community Engagement Response Team officers later found and arrested him at the Seigel Select on Clyde Street, police said. The department has not released further details about what led up to the gunfire, citing the ongoing investigation.
Victim's account
As reported by WVLT, the victim told investigators he and his girlfriend were with Maffett when the shooting happened. The 19-year-old, identified only as a man from Alcoa, told police he was shot during what he described as an attempted robbery.
WVLT reports the victim suffered a single upper-body gunshot wound before being taken to UT Medical Center, where his injuries were described as non-life-threatening.
Charges and next steps
Maffett is facing a serious slate of charges in connection with the case. He has been charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of employing a firearm during the commission of a felony, and one count of especially aggravated robbery, according to KPD.
Police say detectives are continuing to work the case, but the initial release did not include information on Maffett’s bail status or upcoming court dates.
Investigation remains active
Authorities are still piecing together what exactly happened on James Avenue that night and are asking for the public’s help. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Knoxville Police Department Homicide Unit or submit tips through the department’s non-emergency line, according to reporting by WVLT.
We will update this post as the city or prosecutors release more details.
