Brandon Murrell, 31, was shot and killed on January 11, 2022, outside a residence on Fern Street in East Knoxville. Knoxville officers responded about 5:00 p.m.; Murrell was found with gunshot wounds and later died at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. Investigators from the Violent Crimes Unit interviewed witnesses who had been in the area.

Authorities identified Venice James Foster as the person who fired the shots. Prosecutors said Foster retrieved a handgun after finding his driveway blocked, then shot Murrell twice in the chest as Murrell was trying to retreat and later threatened Murrell’s wife. Foster was indicted by a Knox County grand jury and arrested on April 27, 2022; he faced first-degree murder and aggravated assault charges.

At trial in September 2023, the defense said Foster was on his property and feared for his safety because of alleged drug activity at a neighboring house and threatening behavior by Murrell; the defense also played about six minutes of Ring camera footage. Foster acknowledged firing the shots; the jury acquitted him of first-degree murder and aggravated assault on September 28, 2023. Does anyone have information about the confrontation that evening or knew Murrell and his activities on Fern Street?