KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A woman is dead after being shot and thrown from a car, according to the Knoxville Police Department.
Officers responded to Bebo's Cafe around 3 a.m. on Monday. In the parking lot, numerous shell casings were found but there were no gunshot victims at the scene, KPD said.
A short time later, officers found a car—believed to have fled from the shooting—crashed on the Kingston Pike ramp to southbound Alcoa Highway, according to KPD.
Officers found a woman thrown from the crashed car. She was transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center where she was pronounced dead, KPD said.
The woman has been identified as 24-year-old Destiny Jones, according to KPD.
It is believed that Jones was struck by gunfire during the shooting that occurred prior to the crash at Bebo’s Cafe. The Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy and examination in an effort to determine if Jones died as a result of a gunshot wound or the crash, KPD said.
They said the gunshot wound was classified as a non-fatal wound, and Jones died as a result of trauma from the crash. KPD said crash reconstruction investigators are looking into the fatal crash.
They said the driver of the car had "non-incapacitating" injuries and said it has not been determined whether charges will be filed in the crash.
They said the KPD homicide unit is also investigating the shooting at Bebo's Cafe and are trying to identify suspects involved. They said the investigation remains ongoing as of May 18.
Less than a year ago, a 29-year-old died and another man was shot in the Bebo's Cafe parking lot.