Second arrest made in June 27 homicide, one remains at-large

Photo contributed by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office / J'Shaun Laquan Myrick is charged with criminal homicide and especially aggravated burglary.
Photo contributed by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office / J'Shaun Laquan Myrick is charged with criminal homicide and especially aggravated burglary.

A second arrest has been made and a third suspect in a June 27 fatal shooting that left a Franklin County, Tennessee, man dead remains at-large, according to the sheriff's office there.

Authorities on Thursday arrested J'Shaun Laquan Myrick, 19, of Tullahoma, Tennessee, on charges of criminal homicide and especially aggravated burglary in the shooting death of 51-year-old James Eric Hanger, according to a statement issued by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. Hanger was pronounced dead at a home on Pleasant Grove Road where three men entered, demanded money at gunpoint, and a shot was fired during a struggle for the weapon, authorities said. The shot struck Hanger.

Police are now looking for Paul Wayne Fletcher of Nashville, who is a person of interest in Hanger's slaying, according to department spokesman Chris Guess. There was no age listed for Fletcher.

Fletcher is also known to frequent the Tullahoma and Manchester areas, Guess said.

photo Photo contributed by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office / Paul Wayne Fletcher is being sought as a person of interest in connection with a fatal shooting June 27, 2020, in Franklin County, Tenn., that claimed the life of 51-year-old James Eric Hanger.

The crime scene is in a relatively rural residential area a few miles west of Estill Springs, where homes are loosely spaced.

The first suspect arrested, Brent Paul Moon, 21, was taken into custody June 30, said Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller. Moon is charged with criminal homicide and especially aggravated robbery.

Myrick and Moon are being held without bond at the Franklin County Jail and face an Aug. 3 court date in Franklin County General Sessions Court, jail records show.

According to authorities, Moon appeared at the Pleasant Grove Road home and asked to speak to Hanger around 5 p.m. CDT the day of the incident. Authorities said Moon allegedly entered Hanger's home and was followed soon by the other two men who were said to be wearing black masks and clothing.

Authorities allege one of the men demanded money at gunpoint, an argument began and the deadly shot was fired during a struggle for control of the weapon, Guess said. After the shot was fired, all three men fled.

Fletcher should be considered armed and dangerous, Guess said.

Anyone with information on Fletcher's whereabouts is asked to call Franklin County Sheriff's Office Lt. George Dyer at 931-308-9420 or investigator Nick Watson at 931-308-9417.

Contact Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569. Follow him on Twitter @BenBenton or at www.facebook.com/benbenton1.

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