Knoxville, TN (WOKI) He pled guilty to vehicular homicide by intoxication among other charges; now, the man accused of killing the son of the University of Tennessee’s swim coach, is headed to prison.
Knox County Courts announcing Tuesday that Shannon Walker has been sentenced to eight years in prison in the death of 24-year-old Ben Kredich with an additional eight years of supervised probation upon his release.
According to the Knoxville Police Department, Walker was driving on Kingston Pike just west of Concord around 4:00 p.m. in August of 2023 when he crossed several lines of traffic, hitting Kredich.
Prior to the crash, Walker had reportedly been taken to Parkwest Medical Center after receiving Narcan. He was discharged from the hospital about an hour before the crash.
In total, Walker pled guilty to vehicular homicide by intoxication, four counts of reckless endangerment, and possession with intent to sell fentanyl. In addition, he is prohibited from having a driver’s license while on probation.
According to KPD, Shannon Walker was driving on Kingston Pike just west of Concord around 4 p.m. in August of 2023 when he crossed several lines of traffic, hitting Ben Kredich.(Courtesy: KPD)
Gatlinburg, TN (WOKI) Lightning from a recent summer storm is to blame for the Flint Gap Fire burning in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Park fire officials and fire investigators making that announcement Tuesday say the exact date of the lightning strike is unknown, but the fire burning near Hannah Mountain was reported to the park on August 26 and is currently 17 acres in size.
The park says there is low potential for significant growth over the next few days due to the current high humidity, lack of strong winds, and shaded terrain.
Park officials add that lightning caused wildfires are relatively rare in the Smokies with most occurring during the month of August.
Currently, the park says there are ground crews and a “Type 3” helicopter working on the fire. Crews are monitoring fire activity and working to identify areas where they can safely confine and contain the fire. No structures are threatened.
As of Tuesday, the park said Parson Branch Road and some park trails and backcountry campsites are closed due to the potential fire danger.
GSMNP officials advise checking the park website for road closures and other updates before visiting the park.
Photo 2 of tree struck by lightning near Hannah Mountain. (Courtesy: GSMNP)
A Knoxville woman is charged with first-degree murder in connection to a shooting that happened at a Knox County apartment.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office called to an apartment on Oak Valley Drive Sunday night for a shooting. They found a man with a gunshot wound, he was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead.
29-year-old Alexandria Pastor-Light admitted to shooting the victim in the face after making him take his clothes off in the bedroom.
She was taken into custody and charged. The investigation is still underway.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (UT Sports) — After a record-breaking display on Saturday against Chattanooga, the Southeastern Conference office announced Monday that Tennessee redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava was selected as SEC Co-Freshman of the Week.
Iamaleava, making his second career start and first in Neyland Stadium, set a Tennessee school record for passing yards in a half (314) to lead the No. 15 Vols to a 69-3 season-opening victory over the Mocs. The signal caller opened the game 10-of-10 for 159 yards and two touchdowns and finished 22-of-28 for 314 yards with three touchdowns and no picks — all in the first half as UT built a 45-0 lead at the break.
The first-half passing yards broke the previous program record of 313 set by Tyler Bray in the first half vs. Troy on Nov. 3, 2012. Iamaleava’s performance was the fourth 300-yard passing total in a half in Tennessee history.
Iamaleava was the first UT freshman – redshirt or true – to start at quarterback in a season opener since 2004. His 78.6 completion percentage was the sixth-best in the country for Week 1 and the best by any freshman in the nation.
The Long Beach, California, native is Tennessee’s first SEC Freshman of the Week honoree since running back Dylan Sampson was recognized on Nov. 28, 2022. During the Josh Heupel era (2021-present), Tennessee has compiled 31 SEC weekly honors — including four Freshman of the Week awards.
SEC Weekly Awards – Week 1
Co-Offensive Player of the Week Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt Carson Beck, QB, Georgia
Defensive Player of the Week Keon Sabb, DB, Alabama
Co-Special Teams Player of the Week Peyton Woodring, PK, Georgia Tyler Keltner, PK, Oklahoma
Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week Cameron Williams, OT, Texas Fernando Carmona Jr., OL, Arkansas
Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week Kyle Kennard, DE, South Carolina Dylan Stewart, DE, South Carolina
Co-Freshman of the Week Nico Iamaleava, QB, Tennessee Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama
Tennessee Football – 2024 SEC Weekly Honors (1)
SEC Freshman of the Week (1) Nico Iamaleava (vs. Chattanooga, 8/31)
The Knoxville Fire Department is investigating a commercial fire in Fountain City.
Crews were called to a possible fire near Casey’s on Tazewell Pike yesterday (Monday) afternoon and found heavy smoke coming from the rear of the shopping center at the Retreat Massage and Skin Care Center.
Firefighters found a fire in a hallway space and quickly put it out. However, business has suffered moderate, fire, smoke, and water damage. Other businesses in the same building also suffered moderate smoke damage.
The business was closed at the time of the call and was not occupied.
The Knoxville Fire department is investigating a Labor Day house fire in East Knoxville.
Crews were called to the 4000 block of Catalpa Avenue yesterday morning and found heavy fire and smoke coming from two windows of the house. A fire was discovered in a bedroom and crews quickly put the fire out but the home has suffered significant smoke, water, and fire damage.
Four people, two adults and two children, were at home at the time of the fire and were able to escape without injury. Two adults and two children were in the home.
The American Red Cross is providing assistance to those residents.
Update: An arrest is made after Knoxville Police find a man in his bed with a pick-axe stuck in his skull.
KPD was called to a home in the 1000 block of Morrell Road on Sunday and found the victim who is in critical condition. Witnesses told police the suspect, Jeinison Hernandez-Moran, hit the victim multiple times with the axe, then fled but turned himself into police at the scene. It’s believed he knows the victim.
He is charged with attempted second-degree murder. The investigation remains active and ongoing.
Original Story: The Knoxville Police Department is investigating an assault in West Knoxville leaving a victim is in critical condition.
The assault happened at a home in the 1000 block of Morrell Road on Sunday and KPD says the victim was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.
Additionally, a suspect, later identified at Jeinson Hernandez-Moran, and several witnesses were detained for questioning.
Hernandez-Moran was charged with attempted second-degree murder.
KPD says the assault doesn’t appear to be random in nature as the victim and suspect, both of whom are adult men, knew each other.
Today (Sunday), Tennessee Highway Patrol Troopers S. Goode and S. Kearney assisted the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office in apprehending Johnna Miracle. Miracle had been placed on the @TBInvestigation’s Most Wanted List for Attempted 1st Degree Murder.
This comes after a woman was shot and stabbed in the Shawanee Community Wednesday, who was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Sheriff Bob Brooks says an arrest warrant was issued for Miracle for attempted first-degree murder, and on Friday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued a TN Most Wanted Alert for her.
Miracle was arrested at a home near the intersection of Sunset Acres and Red Hill Road. Miracle, who Brooks said tried to change her appearance, was taken to Claiborne County Jail and charged with attempted first-degree murder.
The Claiborne Co. Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division is investigating the incident.
An investigation is underway after a paramedic is killed and another injured in a Jefferson County crash. The Tennessee Department of Transportation says it happened on I-40 West and that a tractor-trailer was also involved in the crash.
Brad Phillips, the Jefferson County EMS director, says the crash happened around 9:30 p.m. Saturday on I-40 near the I-81 interchange.
Phillips says the ambulance was responding to a report of a crash with injuries in the area when it was hit by the commercial vehicle.
A preliminary report by the Tennessee Highway Patrol says the ambulance was traveling southbound on I-81 and the tractor-trailer was on I-40 West as it merged with I-81.
The ambulance, which had its emergency lights on, turned in front of the tractor-trailer as it tried to access I-40 East at a small crossover, resulting in the crash, according to THP.
Phillips says the ambulance had two Jefferson County paramedics on board, Jeremy Sutton and Sarah Brooks, both of whom were injured and taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center.
Sutton had “severe injuries” and died shortly after arriving at the hospital, Phillips said. He added that Brooks is still in the hospital in stable condition.
The preliminary report says neither Sutton nor Brooks were wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
The driver of the commercial vehicle, a 67-year-old man from Georgia, was wearing a seatbelt and not injured.
THP is continuing to investigate the crash, and according to the preliminary report, possible charges against both drivers are pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
After the crash Saturday night, Jefferson County Mayor Mark Potts and several other agencies released statements regarding Sutton’s death.
Jefferson County mourns the loss of Paramedic Jeremy Sutton who passed away last night as a result of an ambulance accident while on duty. Our prayers and sympathy are extended to his family and to all our public safety employees.
Also, remember Paramedic Sarah Brooks who was also injured in the accident. We pray for Sarah and her family.
Thank you to all the public safety agencies who assisted last evening.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knoxville, Gatlinburg and Sevierville are up for recognition from Blue Ridge Outdoors!
All three cities are up for different categories in an audience-decided “Adventure Towns” contest.
Blue Ridge Outdoors began the contest with 100 contenders, narrowing it down to just a select few.
Now, people can vote for in third round of the contest. Gatlinburg is up for best Small Adventure Town, with Sevierville and Knoxville competing for medium and large, respectively.
