Mario PeoplesThe suspect in a fatal shooting earlier this month at a hotel in Hixson had accused the victim of bugging his phone before shooting him, according to Hamilton County court records.
Christopher Trivette, 29, was shot and killed on Dec. 12 inside a room at La Quinta Inn & Suites at 5000 New Country Drive. Police found him on his right side in a pool of blood, and the bed comforter and pillows had been placed over his body, court records state.
Over the course of the investigation, police found that three men - including the suspect, later identified as 41-year-old Mario Peoples - arrived at the hotel the day before in a white Ford Crown Victoria, according to court records.
Witnesses told police Peoples had just purchased a .45 caliber 1911 Ruger pistol before going to the hotel, court records state, where several people were already in the room "shooting heroin."
A witness told police he saw Peoples use heroin along with the victim, who had been sitting on the bed, court records state. Not long after that, Peoples reportedly became irate, accused Trivette of bugging Peoples' phone and then said, "I'm going to kill someone" before pulling out the pistol and shooting Trivette, court records state.
The witness immediately left the room and heard three subsequent shots.
Peoples was identified and picked out of a photo lineup by multiple people and security footage, according to court records.
He was arrested Dec. 15 and booked into the Hamilton County Jail on a $750,000 bond. He's been charged with criminal homicide.
Trivette's death marked the city's 28th gun-related homicide this year. By this time last year, there had been 25 deaths.
Contact Rosana Hughes at 423-757-6327, rhughes@timesfreepress.com or follow her on Twitter @HughesRosana.