Investigators have determined that the deaths of a 7-year-old Cocke County boy and his grandfather were both accidents.
Jayden Norton, 7, of Parrottsville, died after an accidental shooting at his home in the early morning hours of August 25.
His grandfather, Christopher Allen Russell, 54, who lived at the same home, died in a car crash after he lost control of his vehicle shortly after the shooting.
The District Attorney General's Office and the Cocke County Sheriff's Office conducted the investigation, with the assistance of the TBI and THP.
Original story - August 25, 2016
Law enforcement is investigating the shooting death of a 7-year-old boy on Thursday morning and the death of his grandfather shortly after.
Jayden Norton, 7, of the Parrottsville community died around 12:48 a.m. Thursday, according to the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities recovered a handgun from the scene.
The sheriff’s office said Norton’s grandfather Christopher Allen Russell, 54, of Parrottsville died in a motor vehicle accident on North Highway 340 shortly after the shooting.
The boy and his grandfather shared the same home address, according to the sheriff’s office.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is also investigating the shooting.
Cocke County District Attorney Jimmy Dunn said he has requested an autopsy for the boy. He hopes that will help them learn more about what happened. It could take several days to receive the results.
The investigation is ongoing.