Blog: KPD News & Alerts

Update on West Knoxville Murder Investigation (June 11, 2023)

The original release inaccurately reported that the victim's name was Avila Anfernee. The release has since been updated to reflect that the victim's name is Anfernee Avila.

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Knoxville Police Department Homicide Unit detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances that led to the deadly shooting and crash that happened late Sunday night at the intersection of Walker Springs Road and N. Gallaher View Road.

At around 9 p.m. on Sunday, June 11, 2023, KPD officers responded to the intersection of Walker Springs and N. Gallaher View, where an orange Dodge Charger was found wrecked off of the roadway. Two gunshot victims were inside of the vehicle. The driver, identified as 27-year-old Anfernee Avila of Knoxville, was pronounced dead at the scene, while the 16-year-old female passenger was transported to the UT Medical Center with multiple gunshot wounds. She remains hospitalized with critical, life-threatening injuries. A four-year-old child was in the backseat of the car. The child was not injured in the shooting or subsequent crash, but was nearly hit by the gunfire according to ballistics evidence at the scene.

Based on the investigation conducted so far, it is believed that the Charger was waiting in a turn lane at the aforementioned intersection when an unidentified individual exited a car and fired numerous rounds into the car from close range. The Charger then sped away and crashed.

The initial information gathered at the scene indicated that the suspect vehicle was a red sports car. However, detectives have not verified the authenticity of that description. At this time, suspect or suspect vehicle information is not available.

Though the investigation remains in the early stages and a motive has not yet been determined, detectives believe the shooting was the result of mistaken identity.

The investigation into the shooting remains active and ongoing at this time. Anyone with information that could assist with that investigation is urged to contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165. Tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible to receive a cash reward.

Posted by serland On 12 June, 2023 at 7:58 PM