KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Knoxville Police Department is investigating a deadly shooting and crash in West Knoxville on Sunday night.
At around 9 p.m., KPD responded to a shooting near the intersection of Walker Springs Road and North Gallaher View Road. Officers found a car that had been shot multiple times and crashed into an embankment, KPD said.
Two gunshot victims were found inside the car. According to KPD, the driver of the vehicle, identified as 27-year-old Anfernee Avila of Knoxville, was dead at the scene. A 16-year-old female passenger remains hospitalized with critical, life-threatening injuries. A four-year-old was also in the car when the shooting happened, KPD said. While the child was not injured by the shooting or crash, the child was nearly hit by gunfire according to ballistics evidence found by investigators.
According to KPD, investigators believe the victim's vehicle was waiting in a turn lane at the intersection when an unidentified person exited a car and fired multiple shots into the car at close range. The victim then sped away and crashed.
The suspect vehicle was described as a red sports car that reportedly left the scene driving south on North Gallaher View, according to Knoxville police. Still, KPD said investigators have not verified the authenticity of the description.
KPD said at this time, information on the suspect or the suspect vehicle is not available. KPD also said while the investigation is in the early stages, investigators believe the shooting was the result of mistaken identity.
Anyone with information can contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165.
***Editor's Note: This story has been corrected after KPD said it had mistakenly swapped the victim's first and last names in its initial release.***