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Pair indicted in Emory Road traffic killing

Cameron Brewer and Jorge Ortiz Gonzalez were arrested in October in the death of Cameron Smith.

Two Knoxville men were set to be arraigned Tuesday in Knox County Criminal Court in the killing of a 19-year-old man in a traffic confrontation after a drug ripoff.

Cameron Brewer, 19, and Jorge Ortiz Gonzalez, 21, face counts of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and reckless endangerment. A Knox County grand jury returned the indictment Jan. 31.

The case has been assigned to Criminal Court Judge Scott Green's court.

Authorities say Gonzalez's 16-year-old brother Justin was the actual shooter. He's being held in juvenile custody awaiting a Feb. 28 transfer hearing.

Brewer and Jorge Gonzalez are accused in the shooting death Oct. 10 of Cameron Smith, 19, and the attempted killing of Luke Halliburton on West Emory Road in Powell.

On Oct. 6, authorities allege,Halliburton agreed to buy marijuana for $80 from Gonzalez. During the deal, officials said Halliburton used fake money to dupe Gonzalez.

MORE: 2 men, 1 juvenile charged in Powell fatal shooting

Smith was not present during the transaction, according to the Knox County Sheriff's Office.

According to Major Crimes Unit Maj. Mike MacLean, Ortiz then realized he'd been cheated. He attempted to lure Halliburton and Smith to Ammons Street on Oct. 10 to get his money back.

When Smith and Halliburton drove up, they saw several people around a black Mustang and decided to drive away. The Mustang followed and began shooting at the Chrysler Sebring that Smith was driving.

According to the Sheriff's Office, the car came to a stop in the 2500 block of West Emory. Smith died from his injuries.

The Mustang fled, and authorities arrested Gonzalez, Brewer and a juvenile a couple weeks later.

According to records, Justin Gonzalez shot and killed Smith with a .40-caliber pistol.

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