Knoxville, TN (WOKI A 14-year-old South Doyle High School student is facing serious charges following a fire Thursday afternoon in a trash can at the school.
Deputies and juvenile detectives responded around 2:00 p.m. to the trash fire; officials said they believed it was set intentionally.
A 14-year-old boy was arrested later in the day in connection to the fire; he is facing charges of attempted aggravated arson, setting fire to personal property, and vandalism.
(Knoxville, TN- WOKI / KPD) 47-year-old Antonio Fontaine, of Memphis, has been charged with five counts of aggravated assault as well as one count of felony reckless endangerment following a shots fired incident that happened on Clinton Highway late Wednesday night.
At around 10:50 p.m. on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, Knoxville Police Department officers responded to a report that a man was firing a gun at multiple people. Responding officers quickly located the man, since identified as Fontaine, in the parking lot of the McDonald’s at 6715 Clinton Highway. Fontaine, who was armed with a loaded handgun, was immediately taken into custody.
An employee of the McDonald’s reported that he heard five or six shots being fired and also saw Fontaine fire shots into the McDonald’s. Fontaine also allegedly pointed his firearm at multiple McDonald’s employees as they attempted to run from the store to safety. No injuries were reported in the shooting.
It is believed that Fontaine was involved in a domestic-related shooting prior to his arrival at the McDonald’s. No injuries were reported in that shooting, which remains under investigation by KPD detectives.
Fontaine, a previously convicted felon, was also charged with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon in addition to the five counts of aggravated assault and one count of reckless endangerment. Additional or upgraded charges are possible as the investigation progresses.
A Jefferson County is facing charges after the sheriff’s office says he went on a multi-county burglary string.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says 48-year-old Christopher Driggers was taken into custody after deputies were called to Lakeside Drive in White Pine for a burglary call, where a neighbor told them they had seen a U-Haul truck in the area. That neighbor reportedly had pictures of the truck, which investigators used to track down who had rented it: Driggers.
JCSO investigators and detectives from the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office went to a home in Newport, where they found Driggers and several of the stolen items.
Investigators say items were taken from not only the burglary on Lakeside Drive, but three other jurisdictions. “These items were taken from not only the burglary on Lakeside Drive, but three other jurisdictions which included the Cocke and Sevier County Sheriff’s Offices and the Pittman Center Police Department,” JCSO said.
Driggers is being held at the Jefferson County Detention Center on a $100,000 bond.
(Knoxville, TN – WOKI) An investigation is underway following a school bus crash in South Knoxville.
Knoxville Police say no one was injured after the school bus crash on Chapman Highway at Dick Ford Lane this morning, one lane of the road was closed.
KPD says there were 15 elementary school students on the bus at the time of the two-vehicle crash.
(Knoxville, TN – WOKI) An investigation is underway following a school bus crash in South Knoxville.
Knoxville Police say no one was injured after the school bus crash on Chapman Highway at Dick Ford Lane this morning, one lane of the road was closed.
KPD says there were 15 elementary school students on the bus at the time of the two-vehicle crash.
An investigation in underway following a head-on crash in Alcoa.
45-year-old Jose Ramos, who was driving an Avalon going the wrong way on Alcoa Highway crashed into a car after police attempted to catch him, he died at the hospital.
The crash happened near the Green Acres Flea Market Tuesday night. “The officer attempted to catch up to the Avalon and reported that it had crashed with another car, a 2019 gray Nissan Altima, in a head-on manner,” APD said.
Two others, 19-year-old Aden Brown and Casey Claiborne, were in the car hit by the Avalon, they were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. They have been released.
It’s believed Ramos was drinking and anyone with information is being asked to call police.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knoxville Police Department announcing Wednesday afternoon an increased police presence at Knoxville schools in response to the recent wave of school threats.
KPD says officers will have increased visibility at area schools, particularly when students and staff arrive for the day and as they are leaving school grounds. An officer and supervisor will respond to school threats, regardless of whether the threat is actual or implied, and conduct a preliminary investigation. Following the investigation, a KPD Investigations Bureau detective will respond to investigate the situation further.
In its release to media Wednesday, KPD also stated that the Investigations Bureau has assigned one central point of contact to act as the clearinghouse for all school-related threats.
“We understand the stress that our community is feeling and will have zero tolerance for any threats of violence directed at our schools, students or staff,” Chief Paul Noel said. “We have and will continue to treat these threats with the intense seriousness they deserve. We will also charge any individuals who make threats towards our schools to the fullest extent possible.”
KPD also reports that, as of 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, officers had arrested at least six students, ages 12 to 14, for making threats of mass violence at area schools.
One 12-year-old male was charged in relation to a social media threat involving Holston Middle School. Another 13-year-old male was also charged for making a separate, unrelated school shooting threat at the same school.
A 12-year-old male and a 14-year-old male were charged for making separate, unrelated threats at Northwest Middle School. The 12-year-old was charged for a social media threat, while the 14-year-old was charged for making a school shooting threat.
A 14-year-old female was charged for making a threat involving Richard Yoakley Schoool.
A 14-year-old male was arrested for making threats involving Fulton High School.
KPD adds there are still several ongoing investigations into recent school-related threats.
Newport, TN (WOKI) A traffic alert for those traveling in and around Newport in Cocke County.
Officials with the Newport Police Department say construction on the Newport bypass will close a portion of Cope Boulevard for six months.
NPD says the closure will affect the road past Tevet Way and is expected to begin September 16.
Drivers in the area can expect signage communicating the closure.
Gatlinburg, TN (WOKI) The Flint Gap Fire, which was started by lightning on August 26th, continues to burn slowly in a remote area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park primarily in undergrowth in steep terrain.
The fire is estimated to be roughly 28 acres and is not contained and has grown minimally over the last several days due to weather conditions and shaded terrain.
Increased smoke has been visible this week and some rain is expected this weekend which will likely slow, but not extinguish the fire.
No structures are threatened at this time. Some roads and campsites remained closed due to the fire.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knoxville Police Department is asking for help finding a suspect it says vandalized Austin-East Magnet High School overnight Tuesday.
KPD says security footage shows an unidentified white male walking up to the front door around midnight and striking it with what appears to be a child’s scooter.
The man did not enter the school and walked away from the scene. KPD adds that he was walking east on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue.
Those with information are being asked to call East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165.
