Hamilton County Sheriff's Office / Vicent KennedyAn 18-year-old has been indicted on five felony and four misdemeanor counts by the Hamilton County Criminal Court grand jury in connection with a June 28 Brainerd Road shootout that left a woman in critical condition.
Vicent Kennedy, 18, who is also known as Vincent Kennedy Jr., V-cent Kennedy and V-Dollar, was indicted on one count of first-degree felony murder, one count of vehicular homicide, one count of reckless aggravated assault, one count of leaving the scene and one count of reckless endangerment - all felonies - on July 19.
"Vicent Kennedy on June 28 did unlawfully kill Tekeia Clay during the perpetration of or attempt to perpetrate first-degree murder," the indictment said.
The indictment further states that Kennedy and two other defendants, whose names have been redacted due to them being minors, allegedly failed to stop and render aid after the accident, while also allegedly "unlawfully and recklessly" operating a vehicle.
As previously reported by the Chattanooga Times Free Press, Chattanooga police responded shortly after 9 p.m. to the 3400 block of Brainerd Road, where they found a 49-year-old woman suffering from life-threatening injuries, according to a news release. The woman was taken to a local hospital.
The shooting incident - which involved a pickup truck and a BMW speeding along Brainerd Road while shooting at one another, according to Chattanooga police - resulted in the pick-up crashing into a Honda as it was trying to move out of the way.
The woman in the Honda, Clay - who worked at the Bursar's office of Chattanooga State Community College - was ejected from her vehicle as it crashed into the pillars in front of the Price Bail Bond offices. Clay died 11 days later.
"It is not often that life brings us someone as special as Tekeia, and we feel fortunate to have known her during the ten years that she worked at Chattanooga State," Nancy Patterson, vice president of college advancement and public relations for Chattanooga State, said in an email to the Chattanooga Times Free Press. "Her warmth and love of her colleagues and life was infectious. We will miss her greatly, especially her gift to bring a smile to your face."
In another email to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, Alyssa Moss, who claimed said she knew the victim, said that Clay was on her way home from a church event the night of the shootout.
Kennedy, who is being held at Silverdale Detention Center on a $525,000 bond, was also indicted on one count of reckless driving, one count of failure to report an accident, one count of failure to render aid and one count of a driver failing to exercise due care, all misdemeanor charges.
Kennedy is due to appear before Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Don W. Poole on Friday for a preliminary hearing.
(READ MORE: Four inmated captured after escaping from Silverdale Detention Center)
Contact La Shawn Pagán at lpagan@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476. Follow her on Twitter @LaShawnPagan.