The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Staff, Wire Reports

Posted: Sunday, January 21, 2018 06:32 PM

Gunshot Victim Found Near Peltier Road Was Due To Appear In Court October 16 In Heroin Case

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (SOURCE: WVLT) -- The gunshot victim found dead near Peltier Road Tuesday night was due to appear in court Oct. 16 for a heroin case, prosecuted under the RICO statute.

The case is the first time that Racketeer Influence Corrupt Organization statute is being used in Knox County.

The defendant, 35-year-old Abraham James Owens, was found just after 11:30 p.m. Tuesday after the E-911 Center received a call from a resident in the 1600 block of Peltier Road. The resident told dispatchers a man knocked on their door asking for help after he had been shot.

When officers from the Knoxville Police Department arrived to the scene, they found Owens outside of the home suffering from more than one gunshot wound.

Owens was transported to UT Medical Center where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

According to the preliminary investigation, Owens met with someone just before the shooting happened. Owens reportedly ran down Peltier Road asking for help.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call the Knoxville Police Department's crime information line at 865-215-7212. Callers can remain anonymous.