East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers
HOTLINE: 865-215-7165

Many Silent Witnesses
August 15, 2021

On Tuesday, March 20, 2018 shortly after 6 pm Knoxville Police Officers responded to a car crash at Middlebrook Pike and Ed Shouse Drive. Upon arrival they discovered Jerome Diaz Jr, 23 had crashed his Chevy Malibu into an embankment after having been shot multiple times. Diaz was transported to UTMC where he passed on.

This happened with many witnesses driving by and yet no one has come forward to share what they saw. Diaz had been heading west in his Chevy Malibu on Western Av when he turned left onto Ed Shouse Dr before the shooting occurred at the intersection of Middlebrook Pike. Police say it appears to have been a targeted attack as there was no evidence that this was a road rage or random event.

Diaz left behind 2 daughters, a fiancé and parents who would deserve to know what happened to Jerome. If you witnessed this incident or had any interactions with Diaz earlier that day you can REMAIN ANONYMOUS and Submit a Tip to East TN Valley Crime Stoppers online at www.easttnvalleycrimestoppers.org or through the P3 TIPS app.

Jamarion “Dada” Gillette – Aspiring Rapper Killed at 15
August 11, 2021

Jamarion Gillette, better known as Dada to his friends was an aspiring rapper. On the night of March 9, 2021 he was found by a woman on Cherokee Trail in South Knoxville around 11 pm having been shot. She took him to UTMC where he later died; at 15, he had a lot of life left to live.

Knoxville Police are still searching for answers and asking anyone with any information regarding the murder of Jamarion or who may have talked with or seen him during the days leading up to his murder to REMAIN ANONYMOUS and Submit a Tip to East TN Valley Crime Stoppers online at www.easttnvalleycrimestoppers.org or through the P3 TIPS app. If your tip leads to an arrest you will be eligible for a CASH reward.

100’s and 100’s of People and No Witnesses
August 10, 2021

What is it going to take to get people to come forward? Another teenager was murdered, this time with 100’s upon 100’s of witnesses and yet people are still reluctant to come forward. East TN Valley Crime Stoppers was created to remove the fear of retaliation from people who do come forward. Crime Stoppers is not a part of any law enforcement agency, we do not collect any identifying information from the tipster and do not want any of your identifying information. We want you to remain 100% anonymous, that is how Crime Stoppers succeeds, by protecting our tipsters.

There were several hundred people out in Lonsdale Homes Sunday morning when a 17-year-old lost his life and yet only 7 anonymous tipsters have come forward. East TN Valley Crime Stoppers along with the Knoxville Police Department are asking anyone with even a little thread of information to Submit a Tip to Crime Stoppers. Though you may think the information you have is too little to share we are here to tell you it is not…SHARE IT! You never know when your little tidbit of information is just what investigators need to solve a case.

East TN Valley Crime Stoppers makes submitting a tip easy, with 4 different, simple and anonymous ways:

1. Call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
2. Go online at www.easttnvalleycrimestoppers.org and click on the Submit a Tip link
3. Go to our Facebook page and click on the Submit a Tip link
4. Download the free P3 TIPS mobile app

Who is Jane Doe - Facial Reconstruction
August 05, 2021

On November 23, 2016 Knoxville Police were led to an area, frequented by homeless, behind the Best Value Inn on Merchants Drive where the skeletal remains of an unidentified female were found. With little to go on police are asking anyone who may recognize this person based upon the facial reconstruction done by the FBI or who may have information about this investigation to contact East TN Valley Crime Stoppers online at www.easttnvalleycrimestoppers.org or through the P3 TIPS app.

2 Children Grieving Loss of Dad
July 28, 2021

Knoxville Police are asking for your help. On February 14, 2021 at around 10:40 pm they responded to a call of a burglary in progress on Daylily Drive in Montgomery Village. Upon arrival and after gaining access to the apartment officers found Brian Hicks, 33. Hicks had been shot and was pronounced deceased.

Hicks left behind two grieving children and a dad who would like to know what happened to their father and son. Sadly, his mom passed away on May 23rd without knowing what happened to her son.

If you have any information surrounding the murder of Brian Hicks REMAIN ANONYMOUS and Submit a Tip to East TN Valley Crime Stoppers online at www.easttnvalleycrimestoppers.org or through the P3 TIPS app. Crime does not pay, but Crime Stoppers does. If your tip leads to an arrest you will be eligible for a CASH reward.

Wrong House
July 25, 2021

On March 6, 2009 the wrong house was targeted in what appears to have been a retaliatory, drive-by shooting where the wrong man, 66-year old great-grandfather, Lester Walton was struck by gun fire.

That morning he and his wife, Bernice volunteered at the Army Reserve Center in Knoxville, helping feed the reservists who were preparing to deploy to Iraq. That evening they went to his mother’s house, like they did every night to prepare her dinner. As they were eating dinner and watching a UT basketball game the room exploded with the sound of gun fire hitting the house.

Knoxville Police believe the shooters got the wrong house as many of the houses along Ashland Av look the same, especially at night. Police were able to collect shell casings and spoke with a witness who saw a dark, possibly maroon van fleeing the area. The next day kids showed up at the Walton house and gave Bernice a note saying people were talking about the shooting and knew who was involved, but every time the police started asking questions everyone would go silent. His wife said, “it makes you feel like nobody cares, everybody’s got something to say. Everybody knows it. Nobody wants to get involved.”

Though 12-years have passed Knoxville Police are still seeking answers and are hopeful that with Crime Stoppers people will finally feel safe coming forward. Tipsters REMAIN 100% ANONYMOUS and if their tip leads to an arrest they could be eligible for a CASH reward. Lester’s oldest daughter, LeRhonda Walton-Hill says, “We just want someone to step up. My father would have stepped up. That’s the kind of man he was. That’s the kind of community we need to be.”

If you have any information on this case REMAIN ANONYMOUS and Submit a Tip to East TN Valley Crime Stoppers at www.easttnvalleycrimestoppers.org or use the P3 TIPS app. If your tip leads to an arrest you could be eligible for a CASH reward.

Big Heart for People, Money Man Murdered 11 Years Ago
July 18, 2021

James Junior “Jim” Hundley, better known as the Money Man had a big heart for his community and was known by many to lend a helping hand to those in need. He earned his nickname from carrying large sums of cash in his front pocket so he could cash checks for those who did not have a bank account. He was often seen driving around in his gray pickup truck around the first of the month as he visited his small rental houses collecting rent, which was often paid in cash by his tenants.

On February 5, 2010 Jim was working on a home at 1714 Mitchell Street, renovating it for new tenants when he decided to spend the night, which according to his son, Jimmy, was not unusual. When Jimmy arrived the next morning to help his dad he found the door ajar and his father lying on the floor cold to the touch. Once paramedics arrived he learned his father had been shot. It is believed robbery was the motive.

KPD investigators spoke with a witness who saw 2 men in their early 20’s, leave the residence and get into a car, one is described as taller and white and the other shorter and black. Police and Jim’s family need your help. He left behind a wife, 8 children, 14 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren who would like to have some closure, to know who is responsible for his murder.

Someone knows something; someone told the wrong people that Jim carried large sums of cash on him; that he would be at this property, alone; someone has heard rumblings about this murder. These are the people that need to contact East TN Valley Crime Stoppers. They can remain 100% anonymous and share their information. Your tip may connect the dots and solve this murder.

If you have information regarding this case REMAIN ANONYMOUS and Submit a Tip to Crime Stoppers online at www.easttnvalleycrimestoppers.org or through the P3 TIPS app. If your tip leads to an arrest you can be eligible for a CASH reward.

1-Year Old Baby Loses Mom to Gun Violence
July 07, 2021

On November 11, 2018 a 1-year old baby lost his mother when she was shot at the 3700 block of Speedway Circle at Calvin Street, near East Magnolia around 10 pm that night. Tamela Moore was 22 years old and a 2015 graduate from Fulton High School. She was working at McDonalds to help provide for her son and was out with her boyfriend when shots rang out, striking and killing her.

KPD Investigators have made several appeals to the community saying, “We know there are people who witnessed the shooting and people who know what happened, but won’t come forward and talk with us.” Knoxville now has Crime Stoppers and our hope is witnesses and people with knowledge of this murder will come forward. Crime Stoppers creates the perfect avenue for people to REMAIN ANONYMOUS and Submit a Tip. Plus, if their tip leads to an arrest they can be eligible for a CASH reward. Tamela’s friend, Troy Byears says, “It makes you wake up and actually think about what’s going on and how you can make a change…” Reporting what you know, what you saw, or what you heard can make a change in this community and a difference to her son, family and friends. It’s easy, go to www.easttnvalleycrimestoppers.org and click Submit a Tip or use the P3 TIPS app.

A Call No Mother Wants to Receive
July 04, 2021

On September 23, 2016 Carolyn Jackson received a call no mother ever wants to receive; her son Colin (25) had been murdered. Colin was discovered by his girlfriend sitting in his Morningside Hills apartment on Dandridge Avenue, having been shot. According to Knoxville Police Department Investigators it appears that Colin knew his assailant.

Colin had been pursuing a music career as a rapper, known as Colin Greens Hefner and was known for his community involvement and donations to the homeless. It is 2021 and investigators are still asking the community to come forward if they saw, heard or know anything. Whoever killed Colin is a danger to the community and needs to be brought to justice and Colin’s family needs justice for Colin.

If you have information about this case, no matter how seemingly small, you are urged to contact East TN Valley Crime Stoppers. You will REMAIN 100% ANONYMOUS and be eligible for a CASH reward. Submit a tip to Crime Stoppers at www.easttnvalleycrimestoppers.org or use the P3 TIPS app.

Who Killed DeShawn King?
June 30, 2021

On Jan. 20, 2013 DeShawn King (18) was shot on Linden Avenue and found sitting in the passenger seat of a green Ford Explorer, deceased on East New Street. Witnesses came forward to report seeing 2 males in black hoodies take off in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. KPD Investigators are seeking any information the community may have concerning this murder.

Someone has seen, heard or knows something about this case, your information may be just what investigators need to solve DeShawn’s murder. REMAIN ANONYMOUS and Submit a Tip to Crime Stoppers at www.easttnvalleycrimestoppers.org or on the P3 TIPS app. If your tip leads to an arrest you can be eligible for a CASH reward.