KPD identifies victims in fatal East Knoxville shooting, suspects at large

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Knoxville Police Department officers responded to a fatal East Knoxville shooting Wednesday night, according to KPD Communications Manager Scott Erland.

The shooting happened on Lay Avenue, Erland said. Officers reportedly responded to the area on the report of the shooting and were flagged down by a bystander. After stopping, the officers found two men, identified as Demetrius Bomar, 40, and Lamar Harshaw, 30, both of Knoxville, in cars with gunshot wounds. Bomar was later pronounced dead, while Harshaw remains in critical condition at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

After a preliminary investigation, officers said that the incident began when Harshaw was confronted by two Black males at a home on Lansing Avenue in an attempted robbery. The robbery then continued to the Lay Avenue home, where both Bomar and Harshaw were shot.

Bomar and Harshaw both drove to a nearby intersection before the officers found them, Erland said.

Those with information are asked to reach out to East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165 or online at www.easttnvalleycrimestoppers.org.

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