GREENE COUNTY, Tenn — A 7-year-old child was one of the two people killed in a double homicide late Sunday in Greene County, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Greene County Sheriff's Office said the incident happened outside of a home on Old Snapps Ferry Road in Chuckey at around 1:30 a.m.
Deputies found 59-year-old Sherry Cole and 7-year-old Jessie Allen dead. Their bodies have been sent for an autopsy. The TBI said Allen was the grandson of Cole.
According to court documents, there were two men who witnessed the crime, ages 35 and 25.
The documents said, "there were puddles of blood witnessed and assorted tools, some of which were covered in blood."
Authorities identified a 16-year-old juvenile male suspect and charged them in connection with the homicides via a juvenile petition. The teen could potentially face charges as an adult.
According to court records, the 16-year-old started planning to kill the victims earlier in the day. They said he used a hammer and the victims had severe injuries to their heads.
District Attorney Dan Armstrong said the suspect will have a detention hearing in juvenile court within three days. At that point, it's up to the DA to decide whether to pursue adult charges. If the DA's office moves forward with those charges, then a juvenile court judge will make the final decision.
Armstrong said the process to make that decision could be lengthy based on the number of evaluations that may be requested for the juvenile suspect.
The investigation remains ongoing, according to the TBI.