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

Life Lost Near Railroad Tracks
March 07, 2023

On Monday, March 7, 2022, Knoxville Police officers were called to the area of E. Jackson Av. and Morgan St about someone being shot. As they searched the area they found Jeremy Paul, 44 near the railroad tracks off Humes St with at least one gunshot wound.

Jeremy left behind a sister, brother and three children and all of them want to know who killed the man they called brother and dad.

One Night Changes an Entire Families
March 05, 2023

On Saturday, March 5, 2022, an entire family had their lives changed when they lost their son, brother, and grandson. They are still looking for answers and asking the community to come forward with any information, no matter how small it may seem.

Knoxville Police responded to a call of a shooting in parking lot Q of Montgomery Village at about 11:20 PM that night and found Ricky Bernard Waters, 18 suffering from at least one gunshot wound.

Ricky was set to graduate Fulton High School just a few months later with plans to attend Tennessee Tech to become a welder. He had spent the first three years of high school attending Austin-East HS where he played basketball then transferred to Fulton High where he was always known to be a hard worker who had a smile on his face.

His mother said that their family had recently returned from a trip to Orlando and was planning a trip to Jamaica to celebrate Ricky’s graduation.

His family wants justice, they want anyone with any information to come forward, to submit a tip to East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers. Anyone submitting a tip through Crime Stoppers will remain 100% anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. Ricky’s grandmother, Rhonda Walton says, “he was loved so much by our family, and we want to see justice served.”

Help this family get the justice they deserve. If you have any information about the death of Ricky Waters submit a tip to East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers.

Knoxville Police Seek Information on Stabbing
February 06, 2023

Still Searching for Answers 1-Year Later
January 21, 2023

On January 21, 2022 Donald DeShazo, 47 was found dead inside a home at 2418 Wilson Avenue by Knoxville Firefighters who had responded to a house fire at round 8:50 PM.

Based on evidence it was determined that DeShazo had been shot and that the fire had been intentionally set in an effort to destroy evidence.

Two days prior, on January 19th Knoxville Police officers responded to the 2400 block of Selma Avenue regarding a stabbing. During the investigation, officers learned that a woman had been stabbed and sexually assaulted at a nearby location. The victim stated that prior to the incident she was with DeShazo, and that the two went to an unknown location to purchase marijuana. While at this location the victim stayed in the car while DeShazo went inside. After receiving several phone calls from DeShazo’s phone the victim went inside where she was met by a black male wearing a mask and pointing a gun at her head. This individual forced her into a bathroom, stabbed her multiple times and sexually assaulted her. While in the bathroom she heard two people arguing with DeShazo.

Investigators have learned that DeShazo was involved in drug trafficking and is originally from the Detroit, Michigan area. Investigators are asking anyone who may have seen any suspicious people or activity around 2418 Wilson Avenue between 4 and 7 PM on January 19th and from 7 and 8:45 PM on January 21st to call East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165 or **TIPS, submit a tip online at www.EastTNValleyCrimeStoppers.org or use the P3 TIPS app.

Anyone submitting a tip through East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers will remain anonymous and if your tip leads to an arrest you will receive a CASH reward.

Evening Ends in Murder
December 18, 2022

Shortly after 3 am on December 18, 2021 Knoxville Police Officers responded to a shooting that took place in the parking lot of 1425 Magnolia Avenue. When Officers arrived, they found Galven Jamor Siler suffering from at least one gunshot wound.  Galven was transported to UT Medical Center where he remained for several days fighting for his life before succumbing to his wounds on January 7, 2022

Galven had spent the evening out with friends in the Old City before heading to an after-hours hangout at 3 Kingz Tattoos on Magnolia. As they were leaving an argument erupted in the parking lot and then a car pulled up and fired at Galven. 

Galven left behind 2 children, his mother, siblings and many other family members who all grieve his loss. If you have any information on what happened the night of December 18, 2021, what led up to this shooting or any information on the car and those involved submit a tip to East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers. Your tip may be just what investigators need to solve this case.

All tipsters will remain anonymous.

Call: 865-215-7165 or **TIPS

APP: P3TIPS

Online: www.EastTNValleyCrimeStoppers.org

If your tip leads to an arrest you will receive a CASH reward.

December 6, 2022 Marks 1-Yr without “Little Joseph”
December 06, 2022

A Hard Thanksgiving
November 28, 2022

Thanksgiving 2021, Alonzo Rodgers was in the hospital fighting for his life. Sadly, a few days later, on November 28, 2021 he lost his fight and passed away. Since then, his family and friends have grieved his loss, celebrated his life and searched for answers. Now they had to gather for their first Thanksgiving without Alonzo.

On November 24, 2021 just before 10 p.m., Knoxville Police Department Officers were called to 2800 Nichols Avenue, where they found Rodgers suffering from a gunshot wound inside the home. He was transported to UTMC, but passed four days later. 

Alonzo or Zo as he was known by many, had a promising music career and used his music to lift people up and to give them hope. Fellow Good Guy Collective band member Nathan Tipton said, “Zo’s voice was one of the best he’d ever heard” and Colby Earles described his voice as “magic.” During a podcast interview about how he got into singing, Zo said, “It started at church, my pops is a pastor, excellent singer. And I really just got all of my stuff from him.”

Zo is survived by his parents, brother, sister, and numerous family and friends who are all looking for who shot Zo. Knoxville Police investigators are hoping that those with knowledge of this shooting will feel the time is finally right to come forward and share what they know. It does not matter how small the piece of information may be--it is information and that is what investigators are looking for. They need all of the pieces of the puzzle to be able to solve it and give Zo’s family and friends the answers they need and deserve.

If you have any information on who killed Zo you are urged to submit a tip to East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165 or **TIPS, Online: www.EastTNValleyCrimeStoppers.org, or via the App: P3TIPS. All tipsters remain completely anonymous when contacting Crime Stoppers and if your tip leads to an arrest you will be eligible to receive a CASH reward.

Coming Up on 5-Yrs and Still Seeking Answers
October 13, 2022

Do you know who killed Alfred Lamar Griffin, 37 or have information about the shooting? This December will mark the 5-year anniversary of his murder and Knoxville Police investigators and his family are looking for answers.

On December 23, 2017 at 2:30 am Knoxville Police responded to a call at 1109 McSpadden Street involving a white Chrysler 300 that had crashed into a fence. Upon arrival they found Griffin and Stephanie Means in need of medical attention; both were transported to UTMC with serious injuries. Griffin was rushed into surgery and Means sedated. Though Means recovered, Griffin passed away 6-days later, on December 29th leaving his family to grieve his passing.

That night, investigators located the start of the crime scene on Boyd Street at the intersection of W. Baxter Avenue and continuing onto Baxter; more than a dozen shell casings were located in the road. When the gunshots rang out Means, who was driving took off eventually crashing into a fence at the corner of Baxter and McSpadden, tried taking off again only to crash again into a fence on McSpadden where the car came to rest. This evidence matched what Means shared with investigators.

Means, from Atlanta, GA had just arrived in town and met Griffin at his mom’s house. Right after leaving his mom’s house on Boyd Street a car came up from behind and began firing at them while stopped at Boyd Street and Baxter Avenue.

The only people to come forward were those who said they heard gunshots, but did not look outside until after the car crashed. There were several rumors, but nothing concrete. If you have any information about the murder of Alfred Lamar “LG” Griffin you can remain completely anonymous when submitting a tip to East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers and if your tip leads to an arrest you will be eligible to receive a cash reward.

Call: **TIPS or 865-215-7165

Online: www.easttnvalleycrimestoppers.org

1-Year Later and Still Seeking Answers
August 08, 2022

JohnKelian Mathis was only 17 when he lost his life on August 8, 2021 after attending the annual Lonsdale Homecoming. JohnKelian, better known as “John-John” excelled in sports and was preparing to start his senior year at Austin-East High with a 3.25 GPA. As an A-E student he had been recognized as a Project Grad Scholar, named Mr. Freshman and Mr. Sophomore, was a West African Drummer and a member of the A-E football team. His family and friends will tell you he always had a smile on his face and an infectious laugh. His parents, brothers and sisters continue to mourn his death and need the community to come forward with information on who killed John-John. 

Who Are These Men?
July 28, 2022