Four shootings leave three people dead in two days in Chattanooga; one man in custody

Jaylon Hill
Jaylon Hill
photo Jaylon Hill

Chattanooga has seen multiple shootings that have left at least three people dead, including two at the same address, over the course of two days.

One man - 23-year-old Jaylon Hill - is in custody in connection with at least one of the shootings. Chattanooga police have not confirmed whether the two incidents at the same address are connected. But they have confirmed one of the victims is a family member to Hill.

According to Hamilton County court records, police were called to a local hospital after Timothy Taylor, 38, arrived with a gunshot wound to the head shortly after 9 p.m. on Monday.

He'd been shot while in a vehicle, and medical personnel told police he was in critical condition. He died shortly thereafter.

A witness told police Taylor had gone to a home in the 1700 block of South Willow Street to collect some money from a man named "Stew." Once he got there, a man in a toboggan hat and a red jacket, later identified as Hill, approached the vehicle, records show.

The man had a bag across his midsection with his hand in it, and it looked like he was holding a gun, the witness told police. That's when Taylor told the driver of the vehicle to leave.

As the duo were backing out of the driveway, they heard several gunshots. Other homes in the area were also struck.

Another witness identified Hill and told police they saw him fire a gun multiple times at Taylor. Police then spoke to the first witness, showing the person a six-photo lineup. That witness picked Hill out of the lineup.

Then, just after 6 p.m. on Tuesday, police were again called to the same home in the 1700 block of South Willow Street. There, they found 66-year-old Gloria Hill with a gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

While police were at the scene, Jaylon Hill approached them and asked what was going on.

That's when police recognized him as the suspect in the shooting the night before and quickly took him into custody.

He was booked into the Hamilton County Jail on a $500,000 bond, according to online jail records.

Two other shootings - one of which was fatal - took place between the first and second South Willow Street shootings.

First, a 38-year-old man was shot in the 4400 block of 13th Avenue just after midnight on Tuesday. He was taken to a hospital for treatment. His injuries were not life-threatening.

Police haven't released any other details or confirmed whether a suspect has been identified.

Then, at around 2:40 a.m. Tuesday, police were called to the 1700 block of South Kelly Street. They found 61-year-old Russell Paris with a gunshot wound, and he was rushed to a local hospital. But he died shortly thereafter.

As in the 13th Avenue case, investigators haven't released many details.

Police ask anyone with information about any of the incidents to call the homicide tip line at 423-643-5100 or submit a tip via the Chattanooga Police Department's mobile app. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

Contact Rosana Hughes at 423-757-6327, rhughes@timesfreepress.com or follow her on Twitter @HughesRosana.

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