KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — UPDATE (5/20): The alleged gunman in back-to-back Knoxville weekend homicides has a long record of arrests spanning at least two East Tennessee counties, records show.
Robert T. Scruggs, 28, was being held in Knox County custody pending court appearances. Scruggs was wanted by Monroe County authorities at the time that authorities say he killed two people Saturday morning in Knoxville.
In Monroe County, he was awaiting prosecution after being charged in 2023 with theft, auto burglary, vandalism and aggravated criminal trespassing, records show. In January, Scruggs failed to show up for a hearing in the case and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
According to the indictment for Scruggs, in January 2023 he stole a man's Ford F-150. He also burglarized a towing company in Monroe County, the indictment states.
Monroe County authorities haven't heard from him since early this year. A court official was surprised Monday when 10News told her he was in custody in Knoxville.
Scruggs also has an arrest record for thefts and other crimes dating to the 2010s.
In Knox County, he's previously been arrested for counts that include assault, trespassing, resisting arrest and theft.
Four days before the killings, he was arrested after he was spotted squatting in a vacant Clinch Avenue apartment. Evidence indicated he'd broken into the apartment, records show.
Scruggs' hearing is scheduled for July 1. His bond is set for $1 million.
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UPDATE (5/19): According to arrest records, police responded to a call about a shooting at Anderson Towing on Saturday around 9 a.m.
Documents said video surveillance showed Robert Scruggs breaking into the business where he went through numerous desks and drawers while wearing a "distinctive face mask and dark colored hooded jacket." The footage showed the victim, Claude Johnson, falling to the ground before Scruggs took keys from his pocket. The victim's holster on his belt was also found empty, the record said.
Scruggs then exited out the same broken window he came into the business through and left in the victim's stolen Kia Sorento. Johnson later died at the hospital from his wounds, the documents said.
Soon after, officers responded to a call about a shooting on North Broadway where they found a man suffering from at least one gunshot wound. The victim was transported to the University of Tennessee Emergency Room where he also died, the documents said.
Detectives on the scene were able to view security footage of the second shooting that showed Scruggs walk up to the victim, raise his leg and shoot the victim from a gun inside his pocket, according to the arrest record.
Officers then located the Kia and attempted to stop it, with the car then fleeing from them. Officers later located the Kia with nobody in it behind 902 Morningside Drive. Officers then found Scruggs behind a fence near the car. After his arrest, the keys to the Kia were found in his possession as well as a firearm also stolen from the first victim, the documents said.
The distinctive mask was located inside the stolen Kia, according to the documents.
Scruggs was already arrested by the time they received the footage from the second shooting, but was able to be identified based on his distinctive shirt and the hole in his pants consistent with a gun being fired through the pocket, the documents said.
Johnson leaves behind a wife, four children, and two grandchildren.
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UPDATE (5/18): The Knoxville Police Department has charged the person of interest connected to the two deadly shootings near downtown Saturday morning.
KPD said 28-year-old Robert Scruggs has been charged with felony murder from the Anderson Automotive shooting and first-degree murder from the shooting that followed in the 400 block of North Broadway.
He has also been charged with especially aggravated robbery, carjacking, business burglary and two counts of felony evading arrest, according to police.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the two members of our community who tragically lost their lives this morning,” Chief of Police Paul Noel said. “Our department is entirely committed to preventing violent crime and quickly removing those responsible for committing it from our streets. I am incredibly proud of the thorough, collaborative response of our dedicated officers and detectives to this morning’s shootings. Their efforts resulted in the almost immediate apprehension of a man now accused in two murders.”
The motive for the shootings is unknown at this time.
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ORIGINAL
The Knoxville Police Department is investigating two deadly shootings that happened near downtown Knoxville Saturday morning. Police strongly suspect both shootings are connected.
At around 9 a.m., officers responded to Anderson Automotive and Towing on Cooper Street to investigate a shooting with a victim. After arriving on the scene, KPD found a man with at least one gunshot wound.
The victim was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead, according to KPD.
Based on the investigation, Knoxville Police believe the victim was responding to an alarm at the business when he encountered the suspect and was shot. KPD said the suspect left the scene in the victim's car, a Kia Sorento.
After officers initially arrived at the scene of the Anderson Automotive shooting, they received a call about a gunshot victim in the 400 block of North Broadway.
KPD responded to the scene where they found a man who had been shot at least one time. He was taken to UT Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Authorities said multiple possible witnesses were found on the scene and are being interviewed by Homicide Unit detectives at this time. KPD believes the shooting on North Broadway is directly connected to the shooting that happened at Anderson Automotive.
During that investigation, Knoxville Police found the stolen Kia from the Anderson Automotive shooting. Officers attempted to stop it but the driver did not stop.
Police lost sight of the car in the Dandridge Avenue area but later found it parked at a home in the 900 block of Morningside Drive, KPD said. They were also able to find and detain the suspect nearby.
According to Knoxville Police, that suspect is considered a person of interest in both shootings.
This is a developing story.