CrimeA Hayesville, N.C., man is facing murder charges in the fatal shooting of a 22-year-old man Tuesday.
The victim in the Murphy, N.C., shooting died early Wednesday at Erlanger hospital in Chattanooga from a gunshot to the head stemming from a confrontation between two men at a home on Sunrise Street.
The victim was identified as 22-year-old Kenneth Ryan Jones, according to Murphy Police Chief Justin Jacobs. Jones' death Wednesday upgraded the charges against 44-year-old suspect Bryan Crisp, who was apprehended in Polk County, Tenn., after an interstate high-speed pursuit. The weapon was described as a small-caliber handgun.
Crisp, of Clay County, N.C., faces charges in neighboring Cherokee County of murder, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill, possession of a firearm by a felon and discharging a firearm in city limits.
Other charges are pending against Crisp and charges are pending against other people present at the home when the shooting occurred, the chief said.
Jones' body was sent Wednesday to Sylva, N.C., for an autopsy.
The shooting happened just after noon Tuesday at 29 Sunrise St. in Murphy, Jacobs said.
Authorities said Crisp fled from the shooting scene and Murphy police and Cherokee County sheriff's deputies began a search there as medical officials prepared to fly Jones to Erlanger.
During the search in Murphy, the Learning Center Charter School and the Murphy Elementary School - both less than a half mile from the shooting scene - were placed briefly on lockdown.
Soon, Polk County, Tenn., sheriff's deputies and the Tennessee Highway Patrol were in pursuit of Crisp at speeds of more than 100 mph as he fled west across the Tennessee/North Carolina state line.
Jacobs said that when Crisp was taken into custody in Polk County, he was found with the firearm used in the shooting, along with a large amount of methamphetamine. Crisp had several outstanding arrest warrants, as well.
Crisp is charged in Tennessee with possession of drug paraphernalia, manufacturing, delivering, selling or possession of a controlled substance, driving under the influence, possession of a weapon by a felon, violation of the implied consent law, evading arrest, reckless endangerment involving minor injury, speeding - 100 mph in a 55 mph zone - failure to maintain lane and as a fugitive from justice related to the allegations in North Carolina, Polk County Jail records show.
Jacobs said Crisp is being held without bond in Polk County. Officials there said they were unable to provide a mugshot for Crisp because he was being "uncooperative" on Wednesday.
North Carolina officials will seek a governor's warrant to extradite Crisp back to Cherokee County to face charges, Jacobs said.
"I want to personally thank all of the men and women from all of the assisting agencies that helped bring this unfortunate incident to an end," Jacobs said Wednesday. "I would also kindly ask for everyone to respect the victim's family during this time."
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or twitter.com/BenBenton or www.facebook.com/ben.benton1 or 423-757-6569.