KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Three men were arrested for murder, after being accused of killing a 21-year-old, according to the Knoxville Police Department.
KPD officers with the Community Engagement Response Team arrested 18-year-old Iran Lyons at his home on Pickett Avenue in Mechanicsville on Saturday, Feb. 25, KPD said.
Two days later, on Monday, Feb. 27, 20-year-old Na'Kelin McAfee was taken into custody at a home on Abercorn Road, according to KPD.
Four days later, on Friday, March 3, officers arrested 19-year-old Javari Jackson-Allen in Montgomery Village, according to a KPD release.
KPD said Lyons, McAfee and Jackson-Allen are all accused of shooting and killing 21-year-old Rahleik Garcia on Valentine's Day. On that Tuesday in February, officers responded to the shooting on Badgett Drive, near Goins Drive.
There, KPD said they found Garcia at around 5 p.m. with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
KPD said they believe several suspects ran from the scene.
Lyons, McAfee and Jackson-Allen were all charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and employing a firearm during a dangerous felony, according to KPD.
According to arrest records, Lyons was last in the Knox County jail on January 11, 2023, for unlawful possession of a weapon. Officers had responded to a shooting call at Lyons' house on Pickett Avenue.
At the time, records say, unknown suspects fired shots at Lyons' home, and in response, Lyons and a juvenile at the home armed themselves with guns, confronted the shooters and fired their own shots.
