KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — UPDATE 2:30 PM WEDNESDAY: The 15-year-old boy shot to death overnight was found wounded in the Cherokee Trail area of South Knoxville by a stranger who took him to nearby University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville Police Chief Eve Thomas said Wednesday.
Officers hoped but were unable to speak to the victim -- identified by family members as Jamarion "Dada" Gillette -- before he died. Police were alerted about 11:22 p.m. Tuesday that he'd arrived at the hospital.
Doctors tried to save him, but police were notified about 5:45 a.m. Wednesday that he had died.
Knox County Schools said Gillette had attended Austin-East High School in fall 2020, making him the fourth student from the school to die from gun violence in a matter of a few months. KCS announced it would move to virtual-only classes at Austin-East, Vine Middle School and Sarah Moore Greene Elementary School on Thursday and Friday following the shooting.
It's not clear where or at what time Jamarion was shot. Cherokee Trail is a winding, hilly road that includes numerous apartment complexes.
Thomas, briefing members of the media Wednesday afternoon, urged anyone with information, including anyone who heard gunshots being fired in their neighborhood Tuesday night, to contact KPD. Investigators are still trying to identify exactly where Jamarion was shot.
Two locations where shots were reported fired Tuesday afternoon and night: the 811 East Downtown apartment complex off East Hill Avenue across the street from KPD headquarters, and outside the parking lot of Sarah Greene Moore Elementary.
A witness claimed they saw two vehicles chasing each other through the parking lot of the elementary school around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, but police were unable to locate anyone at the scene.
Police later said one of the victims called, who claimed they had gone to Teleserve to report they had been shot at. Officers responded, and said the victim said their child had been assaulted at Austin-East earlier in the day.
When the victim picked up the child, they said a white sedan began following them on Brooks Avenue, so they drove through the parking lot of the elementary school to evade them. The victim said they then believe a passenger in the sedan began shooting at them, and they drove directly to police headquarters.
Officers said witnesses claimed to see a vehicle stop on Brooks Avenue before a door opened and someone shot at the victim's vehicle, saying they heard three gunshots. Officers said they were unable to see any weapon or gunfire from the surveillance footage they had of the incident, but did locate a single shell casing on the north side of the road.
Outside KPD, shots were fired about 10:45 p.m. but no victim was found.
It's not clear if that shooting is related to what happened to Jamarion, according to Thomas.
The chief said she had no evidence the shooting of Jamarion was related to those earlier this year of Stanley Freeman Jr. 16, or Janaria Muhammad, 15.
Family members told WBIR that Janaria was "like (Jamarion's) best friend."
Stanley and Janaria were students at Austin-East High School. Jamarion had attended Austin-East last year but had stopped coming in September, according to authorities.
"We will not rest until those who have committed these violent crimes are brought to justice," Thomas said.
Jamarion's cousins said he had a contagious smile and was a fun person to be around.
"All the kids loved to be around him because he just had a bright personality and he was a bright person," said cousin Anijah Flack.
"Dada was known for making people laugh and smile as he was always carrying his big smile on him at all times," said cousin Timothy Tyreece.
At the time of his death, Jamarion was in the custody of the state Department of Children's Services and was supposed to be at a Crossville youth center but had fled it months ago.
Thomas said the boy was considered a runaway. Authorities had been given numerous addresses over the months for Jamarion but hadn't been able to locate him, Thomas said.
"This remains a very active and fluid investigation," Thomas said. "Unfortunately, there is little that we can answer at this point."
Officers have spoken with the woman who drove Jamarion to the hospital. Thomas declined to release further details.
"I would have never thought that he would have been one to be a victim to gun violence," said Flack."
Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon also took part in the Wednesday briefing.
"The bottom line is our city must be safe for everyone, and this gun violence cannot persist," Kincannon said.
Thomas said anyone with information about Jamarion's shooting or the other recent homicides -- even things they think might be minor or insignificant -- should contact KPD.
KPD has a crime hot line at 865-215-7212. People can also email information at violentcrimes@knoxvilletn.gov. And they can call the Violent Crimes Unit at 865-410-0839.
People can be anonymous if they prefer when submitting information, Thomas said.
Last week, authorities announced a means via social media for people to leave tips about the homicides of Janaria and Stanley. So far, however, investigators haven't gotten any tips -- "none" -- of substance from those platforms, Thomas said.
PREVIOUS STORY: The Knoxville Police Department said officers responded to a teenage boy arriving to UT Medical Center with a gunshot wound Tuesday night.
KPD said the teen arrived at UT Medical Center at 11:22 p.m., via a personal vehicle, with a gunshot wound.
Around 5:45 a.m. Wednesday, KPD said officers were notified that the teen had died due to his wounds.
According to KPD, it is unknown at this time where the shooting took place.
The investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting is urged to call the KPD Crime and Drug Hotline at 865-215-7212. Tips can be submitted anonymously.
We will continue to update as we learn more.