4 found shot to death near Tennessee mountain resort

[News_Editor]

CRAB ORCHARD, TENNESSEE (BNO NEWS) -- Four people were found shot to death Thursday in a car near a former mountain resort in central Tennessee, local authorities said, adding that the victims appeared to have been deliberately targeted and that investigators were pursuing leads.

The bodies were discovered by a resident of the Renegade Mountain resort community who saw the car on a gravel road while on his way to work at about 7 a.m. local time on Thursday. The scene is located about 100 yards (91 meters) off a main road at a former resort near the community of Crab Orchard in Cumberland County.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) spokeswoman Kristin Helm said the four victims, described as either in their teens or early 20s, had been shot to death. "We are working to identify them as well as determine ages. At this time we are investigating it as a homicide," she said, rejecting the possibility of a murder-suicide.

Deputy District Attorney General Gary McKenzie said investigators did not know when the shooting occurred, but believe it happened in the hours prior to the discovery of the bodies. "I can tell you that we think we are in a pretty close window of when it happened, but I can't specifically say was it last night or 10 minutes before the car was found," he said.

No arrests had been made as of late Thursday, but investigators said the victims appear to have been deliberately targeted and assured local residents there is no threat to the community. "We do not believe the community is in any form of danger, that's important for the community to understand," McKenzie said.

Casey Cox, chief investigator of the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office, said the investigation was in the early stages and that its crime scene unit is still processing the scene. "We've got an active investigation, we have some things that we are going to follow up on," Cox said, without elaborating on the leads they are pursuing.

John Moore, President of the Renegade Mountain Community Club, said he sent out an e-mail and Facebook message to local residents to come forward with any information they may have about the shooting. "Throughout the day we received several tips that were turned over to the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office," he said.

McKenzie, who said federal authorities were also involved in the investigation, described it as an 'unusual' crime in a county that typically handles about 3 to 4 homicides per year. "I prosecuted a double homicide a year or two ago, but four [victims] in one [scene] is very unusual for this area," he said.

(Copyright 2013 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved. Info: [email protected].)

[hanno]

adding that the victims appeared to have been deliberately targeted

Whatever makes you think that Sherlock?

[NeverSure]

Suspect detained in rural Tennessee slayings of 4

Link

Ex con multiple times, arrested on parole violation from prison.

Please note that it was totally illegal for him to own a gun with his record.

[Scott]

A troll post has been deleted. Please stay on topic.

[F430murci]

Suspect detained in rural Tennessee slayings of 4

Link

Ex con multiple times, arrested on parole violation from prison.

Please note that it was totally illegal for him to own a gun with his record.

I was in Gatlinburg this week for depositions, the mountain region of Tennessee. Tennessee has the laziest gun laws imaginable and I am sure most felons and psychopaths have purchased guns through loop holes in Tennessee.

[Chicog]

adding that the victims appeared to have been deliberately targeted

Whatever makes you think that Sherlock?

The manner of their executions perhaps?

[NeverSure]

Suspect detained in rural Tennessee slayings of 4

Link

Ex con multiple times, arrested on parole violation from prison.

Please note that it was totally illegal for him to own a gun with his record.

I was in Gatlinburg this week for depositions, the mountain region of Tennessee. Tennessee has the laziest gun laws imaginable and I am sure most felons and psychopaths have purchased guns through loop holes in Tennessee.

“The suspect knew the victims to some degree,” District Attorney General Randy York said during a news conference Friday but would not elaborate.

He declined to release details of the shootings but said a special session of the grand jury would be called to consider the case.

TBI (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation) Director Mark Gwyn declined to say if drugs were involved in the slayings but said drugs are involved in 90 to 95 percent of all crime."

Read more: http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/national/jacob-allen-bennett-tennessee-murder-suspect-knew-victims-to-some-degree-district-attorney-says#ixzz2etjCXUSH

You're "sure." How about the druggies that steal them in home burglaries while committing crimes to support their drug habits? Does Tennessee have the laziest drug laws you can imagine, too?

"I'm sure" That this is going to come down to a drug deal gone bad. Well, I'm as sure as you are, LOL.

[Somtamnication]

Horrible crime. I policed Memphis for 8 years. Glad I got out of that hell hole. Horrible state, horrible people (of all colors).

These kids lost their lives over NOTHING. RIP.

[F430murci]

Horrible crime. I policed Memphis for 8 years. Glad I got out of that hell hole. Horrible state, horrible people (of all colors).

These kids lost their lives over NOTHING. RIP.

What years. My brother was a police officer I. Bartlett before joining the FBI and we have many friends on Memphis police force. You are correct Memphis is a hell hole and if you are not racist, you will be after spending a year or so there.

[Scott]

An off-topic post has been deleted. This thread is not going to turn into a debate on gun control. At this point their is very little information on which to make any conclusions. Even CSI-ThaiVisa is going to have to exercise restraint or risk having your post deleted and a warning issued.