Ronnie "Bo" BurnettOne man is dead and another has been charged after an early morning argument near Whitwell, Tenn., ended Thursday in a shooting.
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation officials say Raymond Aaron Lawhorn, 52, was found dead inside a Jones Point Road home.
Phillip Clements, 58, of Whitwell, is charged with criminal homicide and is being held without bond at the Marion County Jail, TBI spokesman Josh DeVine said.
The incident was initially reported as a home invasion, but when deputies got to the scene off Valley View Highway they found an injured Clements outside and Lawhorn's body inside. Lawhorn appeared to have been shot in the head, Marion County Sheriff Ronnie "Bo" Burnett and the TBI said.
Phillip Clements was arrested for the murder of Raymond Aaron Lawhorn.Jones Point Road is off of Valley View Highway, about halfway between Whitwell and Jasper.
The report came in to authorities around 1:30 a.m. CDT Thursday, Burnett said. Clements, Lawhorn and an unnamed woman were the only people known to be at the home when things went awry, he said. Investigators spoke to both on Thursday, he said.
"It was reported as a home invasion but actually it was an argument between these two guys," the sheriff said. "At some point, [the homeowner] went and got his pistol. I guess he felt like his life was threatened."
DeVine said a news release said information "led to Phillip Clements as the individual responsible for Lawhorn's death," but that the investigation is ongoing.
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or twitter.com/BenBenton or www.facebook.com/ben.benton1 or 423-757-6569.