Fatal shooting in East Knoxville was an attempted robbery, police say

A Knoxville man shot and killed Wednesday night was the victim of an attempted robbery, a Knoxville Police Department spokesperson stated in a press release.

Demetrius Bomar, 40, was pronounced dead after being taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center. A second man also was shot and remains hospitalized, the release stated.

At about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, police were called to the 2700 block of Lay Avenue for a shooting, but officers were flagged at the intersection of Biddle Street and Brooks Avenue for two gunshot victims, the spokesperson said.

The incident began when the second victim was confronted by two unknown men at a home on Lansing Avenue in what appeared to be a robbery, the release stated. The attempted robbery continued to a second home on Lay Avenue, where both victims were shot by the two suspects, who then fled the scene.

The victims left the scene in their cars before stopping at the intersection of Brooks and Biddle, where responding officers located them and provided aid.

Efforts continue to identify the two suspects from the robbery and shooting, the release stated.

Anyone with information is urged to call East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165 or go to easttnvalleycrimestoppers.org. Tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible to receive a reward.

Liz Kellar is a public safety reporter for Knox News. She can be reached by email at lkellar@knoxnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: East Knoxville shooting: Man killed ID'd in believed attempted robbery