The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Staff, Wire Reports

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

Friends and Families Of Powell High Area Shooting Victim Speak Out About Victim

(SOURCE: WVLT) - Friends and the girlfriend of 19-year-old Cameron Smith said they still don't understand why someone would gun down a person they described as always caring of others.

Ashton Wade said she knew Cameron through their time at Powell High School. Wade described him as a nice and outgoing guy who never had problems with anybody.

"I'm so sorry this happened, and I never thought anything would happen to him like this because he was such an amazing person. And there's no reason for anyone to have anything out on him like that, " said Wade.

Smith was shot and killed Tuesday night while driving down Emory Road. The Knox County Sheriff's Office said said the passenger, 20-year old Lucas Halliburton, was is in stable condition at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

Smith's girlfriend told Local 8 News "he always brought light to everyone and always did anything and everything to make people happy."

Investigators said Around 6:00 p.m. Tuesday a caller reported a black Ford Mustang chasing a white Chrysler Sebring. Witnesses told dispatchers the Mustang was "aggressively following" the Sebring. Investigators said the passenger started shooting at the Sebring with a handgun after they turned onto Emory Road.

The chase reportedly started on Clinton Highway near Powell Drive and ended when the Sebring came to a stop in the 2500 block of Emory road outside of the Broad Acres neighborhood.

Deputies hoped Halliburton would be helpful in piecing the case together, but investigators said he told them he did not know what prompted the shooting.

The sheriff's office said at a news conference Wednesday authorities took possession of a black Ford Mustang, but could not confirm if it matched the vehicle they were searching for in connection to the case. The sheriff said they were also looking for two persons of interest, but could not name them.

The sheriff thanked the public for their response to the shooting. He said 15 witnesses patiently waited for an extended period of time to be interviewed.

Deputies asked for help finding two black men considered suspects in the case. Both men were described as armed and dangerous. Anyone with information was asked to call 865-215-2243.