Dyersburg Police Chief Steve Isbell calls the latest shooting incidents in the city tragic and the lack of cooperation by eyewitnesses “beyond reprehensible.”
In the latest incident, there were three separate shootings over the weekend that left one dead.
Isbell said: “Three separate shootings this weekend resulted in the loss of life, two young men shot, and the recovery of nearly 50 shell casings from the three crime scenes. The loss of life is tragic, and the lack of cooperation from eyewitnesses is beyond reprehensible. A detective working the homicide scene was told point blank by individuals on the scene that they would not talk. One individual told the detective to do his “expletive job, I’m not telling you anything”. Unfortunately, we are hearing this far too often on crime scenes. I am pleading with our community to come forward if you witnessed the shooting, or have any information. Those individuals responsible for the violence in our community have no regard for life, and we as a community must work together to end this violence.”
Dyersburg Police released the following press release that outlines the weekend’s events:
October 2, around 4:42 p.m., Dyersburg police responded to Roberts Avenue in reference to a man shot. Officers arrived to discover multiple people in the area that directed officers to a ditch where a man was found shot.
The victim was identified as Keaston Akins, 26, Dyersburg. Officers attempted lifesaving measures on Akins while awaiting EMS. Akins was immediately transported by ambulance to West Tennessee Healthcare, Dyersburg, where he was pronounced dead.
Officers and detectives attempted to interview multiple witnesses to the shooting with very little information being offered to law enforcement. DPD collected 19 shell casings from the scene.
October 2, around 9:19 p.m., an officer working an unrelated call heard as many as 12-15 gun shots being fired in the west portion of the city. Officers responded to the area when calls for service started to come in that a person had been shot on Finley Street.
Officers arrived to discover that a 19-year-old Illinois man had been shot. The responding officers rendered aid to the victim until EMS arrived. It was also reported that a second man that was on the scene had been transported by private vehicle to West Tennessee Healthcare suffering from a gunshot wound. It was later determined that the second victim, a 19-year-old Dyersburg man, had been shot while on Finley Street.
Both victims reported that they were outside of the residence changing a flat tire when someone opened fire upon them. The vehicle was also struck multiple times. Both victims were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
October 3, around 12:30 a.m., DPD responded to Ross Avenue in reference to multiple shots being fired. Witnesses reported that two vehicles were seen leaving the area that may have been involved. An officer responding to the scene attempted to stop a Dodge Durango that was seen leaving the area. The driver of the Durango evaded the officers stop and continued traveling west on East Court. The second vehicle that was seen leaving the area by witnesses was described as a black sedan.
Evidence collected on the scene indicate that one or both of the possible vehicles involved will have damage from the gunfire. No injuries or other property were reported damaged from the shooting. Officers collected 13 shell casings.
Police are asking anyone with information to call 311, Dyer County Crime Stoppers at 285-TIPS, or the Criminal Investigation Division at 288-7679.
