The blood trail led through a backyard, snaked through the woods, and ended at the southern entrance of Carousel Road.
There, 150 yards away from the crime scene, investigators found 22-year-old Jermichael Tillery nursing a gunshot wound to the arm.
Tillery was never at the crime scene at 1419 Carousel Road, he said. He knew nothing about the homicide of Cornelius Douglas, which police had been called to investigate around 1 a.m. that April day. Tillery had been at his friend Joe's nearby house, then a stranger walked up and just started shooting at him.
That's what Tillery told Chattanooga police investigator Chris Blackwell, anyway.
"I walked through the scene, spoke to family members. I gave them the notification of death, the order of autopsy," Blackwell said Tuesday in Hamilton County General Sessions Court.
Blackwell said officers never recovered any firearms from the April 24 slaying, which claimed the life of 27-year-old Douglas. But he did find a witness who pointed to Tillery as the gunman. And using that testimony, authorities charged Tillery with criminal homicide and unlawful carrying or possessing a firearm.
After listening to testimony Tuesday, Judge Gary Starnes agreed to send Tillery's case to the grand jury on the same bonds. If jurors return an indictment, Tillery heads to Criminal Court, where his attorney, Bill Speek, believes the matter will be resolved.
"I think the star witness for the state is not being truthful," Speek said afterward. "This is just a preliminary hearing. We'll get it resolved upstairs in Criminal Court."
Speek referenced the testimony of Michael Walker, the witness who identified Tillery.
Prosecutor Kristen Spires called Walker during Tuesday's preliminary hearing, and he recounted the shooting.
Walker said he went over to 1418 Carousel Road to speak to his friends, but Tillery and Douglas got into an argument. As he tried to leave with Douglas, Walker turned to grab his cellphone. Then he heard gunfire, and saw "the fire" come off the weapon, he testified.
"So, you did see Mr. Tillery shoot about five shots?" Speek asked.
"Six," Walker replied.
As he launched into the story, Walker then said there were 13 shots.
During his cross-examination with investigator Blackwell, Speek took further issue with some of Walker's testimony, who said Tuesday a second shooter may have been involved. That was the first time Speek said he'd heard such information - and Blackwell added that he only learned of it Tuesday.
"So, you have Mr. Douglas firing a firearm after Tillery fired?" Speek asked.
"Yes," Blackwell replied.
"So Mr. Douglas fired toward Mr. Tillery."
"After being fired at, yes."
"And today he [Walker] is saying Mr. Douglas never had a gun," Speek said. "So he's lying?"
"We don't know either way," Blackwell said. "There are untruths in his statements."
Contact staff writer Zack Peterson at 423-757-6347 or zpeterson@timesfreepress.com.