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New Year's Day shooting homicide in Knoxville accidental, according to records

The victim, Kayla Viars, 27, of Loudon, was dropped off in the lobby of the hospital by an unknown male with at least one gun shot wound, according to KPD.

UPDATE, Friday, Jan. 5, 2018, 12:00 p.m.

Court records show 27-year-old Kayla Viars died after a witness claimed she was accidentally shot in the back on New Year's Day.

According to the arrest warrant records, Marques "Polo" Wheeler was arrested and charged with reckless homicide in the incident.

Just after midnight on New Year's Day, witness Dominick Brown said he, Wheeler and Viars were in a car together riding around Market Square in Downtown Knoxville. Brown said Wheeler took out a .22 caliber handgun and began playing with it, which accidentally fired and hit Viars in the back.

Viars was dropped off in the emergency room of the East Tennessee Children's Hospital where she died from the gunshot wound.

A KPD spokesperson said Wheeler was arrested "without incident" on the north side of the city. He was booked at the Knox county Detention Center Thursday.

UPDATE, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018, 9:45 p.m.

Marques "Polo" Wheeler has been arrested by Knoxville Police officers and is being booked into the Knox County Detention Center.

A KPD spokesperson said Wheeler was arrested "without incident" on the north side of the city.

Earlier Thursday, KPD said a warrant had been issued for Wheeler's arrest for reckless homicide in connection to the shooting death of 27-year-old Kayla Viars, of Loudon, on Jan. 1, 2018.

UPDATE Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018

Knoxville Police have obtained an arrest warrant for a man accused in the shooting death of a 27-year-old woman on New Year's Day.

Marques Wheeler, also known as "Polo", is wanted for reckless homicide in the shooting death of Kayla Viars on Jan. 1, 2018.

KPD said Wheeler should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Knoxville Police Department at 865-215-7000.

According to KPD, officers were called to East Tennessee Children's Hospital on West Clinch Avenue around 1 a.m. Monday to investigate a shooting. When they arrived, they learned the shooting did not occur at the hospital.

The victim, Kayla Viars, 27, of Loudon, was dropped off in the lobby of the hospital with at least one gun shot wound, according to KPD.

ORIGINAL STORY

The Knoxville Police has launched a homicide investigation after a 27-year-old woman was dropped off at the hospital with a gunshot wound and later died.

According to KPD, officers were called to East Tennessee Children's Hospital on West Clinch Avenue around 1 a.m. Monday to investigate a shooting. When they arrived, they learned the shooting did not occur at the hospital.

The victim, Kayla Viars, 27, of Loudon, was dropped off in the lobby of the hospital by an unknown male with at least one gun shot wound, according to KPD.

Officers said the unknown male left the scene prior to their arrival. Viars died from her gunshot injuries shortly after arrival at the hospital, KPD said.

Dominic Michael Brown, aka True Story

KPD located the person of interest related to Viars' death. Officers were looking for 27-year-old Dominick Michael Brown, also known as TrueStory, in connection to the homicide.

Brown, who has ties to Monroe, Megis or Loudon County, is not facing charges at this time.

If anyone has any information about this incident please call the Knoxville Police Department at 865-215-7000.

"KPD would like to thank the Knoxville Metro and East Tennessee area community for the numerous tips that we received after our media release was issued," a spokesperson said. "The investigation in this homicide is still in progress."

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