Chattanooga police arrest 18-year-old in drive-by shooting

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

photo Alfred Latrey Wyatt
Map

1800 E. 12th Street

1800 E. 12th Street

Chattanooga police have made an arrest in Monday's drive-by shooting of a juvenile in the 1800 block of E. 12th Street.

Alfred "Milk" Latrey Wyatt, 18, was picked up by Chattanooga police officers on Tuesday at an 1100 block E. 13th Street home, where they were looking for Wyatt in connection with the shooting.

At about 8:45 p.m. Monday, officers responded to a call about a person shot, and found the victim, a juvenile male, with a single gunshot wound to his right forearm.

Before the victim was taken to Erlanger hospital for medical attention, he told police that a person known as "Milk" had shot him from a dark-colored vehicle. Witnesses verified that a dark blue or black vehicle had been traveling on E. 12th Street, when the front passenger began shooting out of the window.

According to the victim, "Milk" had accused him of robbing his cousin. The victim told police that he had seen "Milk" drive by twice, before shooting him on the third pass. The victim then ran to another home on E. 12th Street for help.

"Milk was identified as Wyatt by investigators, and when Wyatt's photo was shown to the victim, he verified that Wyatt was "Milk," according to police reports.

Police conducted a "knock and talk" at the address listed as Wyatt's residence on his Tennessee ID card. Upon arrival, police spoke with Tonya King, Wyatt's mother, who was sitting on the front porch.

Police asked King if she had seen Wyatt, and she replied that she hadn't seen him since the day before, and that he didn't stay there much. Police then asked if they could take a look inside, and King consented and escorted the officers from room to room. But once King got to the last room, she skipped it.

According to the police, an officer began to open that door when a male matching the description of Wyatt exited the room, and asked police, "What's going on?"

Police took Wyatt into custody and took him outside, where he told them that he was Alfred Wyatt.

Wyatt was taken to the police service center for questioning and arrested on charges of aggravated assault, attempted first degree murder and the unlawful carrying or possession of a weapon.

Wyatt's criminal history dates back to October 2013, and includes assault, theft under $500, theft over $1,000 and carrying a dangerous weapon with intent to go armed.

Wyatt was booked into the Hamilton County Jail on a $150,000 bond, and he is scheduled to appear in Hamilton County General Sessions Court on June 13 in front of Judge Clarence Shattuck.

Earlier news report: