x
Breaking News
More () »

18-year-old charged in January killing involving AR-15

Amir Spears, Elijah Bowman and a juvenile are alleged to have gone to a Western Avenue home on Jan. 28 intent on committing a robbery.

An 18-year-old Knoxville man faces first-degree murder and attempted murder charges in the January killing of a woman during a home invasion on Western Avenue.

Amir H. Spears is being held in lieu of a total of $200,000 bond. He faces a March 12 hearing in Knox County General Sessions Court.

Authorities say Spears, Elijah Bowman and a juvenile on the night of Jan. 28 went to a home in the 6100 block of Western Avenue intent on robbing the occupants.

They went in through the front door, Bowman and the juvenile armed with a handgun and Spears carrying what was thought to be an AR-15 assault-style rifle, warrants state.

Elijah Bowman (Source: KPD)

Inside were 29-year-old Denise Stevens. 18-year-old Abdul Tahir and 19-year-old Deantrea Woods.

When those in the house sought cover, Bowman and the youth started shooting, warrants state.

Stevens ran to a bedroom. Gunmen fired through the bedroom door, hitting her, according to warrants.

She was pronounced dead at University of Tennessee Medical Center. Tahir and Woods were treated and released for gunshot wounds, according to the Knoxville Police Department.

One of the male victims identified Spears from a photographic lineup.

An AR-15 and marijuana were stolen from the house. Three children were in the home at the time, according to KPD.

Bowman was arrested the day after the shooting. Like Spears, he's charged with first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder.

Before You Leave, Check This Out