Man killed, girl injured in what police call mistaken identity shooting in West Knoxville
Correction: Because of erroneous information provided, Anfernee Avila's name was not correct in an earlier version of this article. We regret the error.
A Knoxville man was killed and a 16-year-old girl was critically injured in a shooting that police believe was a case of mistaken identity.
Around 9 p.m. June 11, Knoxville Police Department officers responded to a shooting near the intersection of Walker Springs and North Gallaher View roads, a police department spokesperson said in a press release,
An orange Dodge Charger was found wrecked off the roadway and two gunshot victims were found inside the car, the release said. The driver, identified as 27-year-old Anfernee Avila, of Knoxville, was pronounced dead at the scene, while his passenger was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center with multiple gunshot wounds. She remained hospitalized June 12 with critical, life-threatening injuries.
A 4-year-old child was in the backseat of the car. The child was not injured in the shooting or subsequent crash, but was nearly hit by the gunfire, according to ballistics evidence at the scene.
It is believed the Charger was waiting in a turn lane at the intersection when an unidentified individual exited a car and fired numerous rounds into the Charger from close range, the release stated. Avila then sped away from the intersection before crashing.
The initial information gathered at the scene indicated the suspect was in a red sports car and left the scene traveling south on North Gallaher View Road. Detectives had not verified the authenticity of that description.
Anyone with information is asked to contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165.
Liz Kellar is a public safety reporter. Email lkellar@knoxnews.com.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville man killed, girl injured in mistaken identity shooting