On the cold early hours of Monday, Nov. 10, in the quiet suburbs of Kingsport, Tenn., the city’s peaceful Monday morning was shattered by gunshots on Sky South Road. At about midnight local time, a distraught 9-1-1 caller reported hearing firing and finding a man collapsed on the ground. When officers from the Kingsport Police Department arrived, they discovered 37-year-old Johnathon Reed, a white male resident of the area, lying motionless. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives swiftly took over the case, cordoning off the crime scene and combing through evidence and witness statements. As the investigation unfolded, two individuals were identified as persons of interest: 22-year-old Krysten Atkins and 33-year-old Tyler Holly. Atkins, a white female, is described as approximately 5’3″ and 154 pounds. Holly, a white male, was listed at about 5’10″ and 150 pounds. Both are known to have frequented the Lynn Garden Drive area.
Later that very day, around 5 p.m., detectives located the pair at a residence on Garden Drive. They were taken into custody without incident, and local law enforcement conveyed their gratitude to members of the public who provided tips and helped narrow the search. “The swift resolution of this case was made possible through diligent investigative work and the cooperation of our community,” said a spokesperson for the Kingsport Police Department.
Following the arrests, charges were formally filed: Krysten Atkins was booked into the Sullivan County Jail in Blountville on one count of first-degree murder. Tyler Holly is being held in the Kingsport City Jail and was charged with one count of accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.
Mr. Reed’s death remains under investigation as detectives continue to gather evidence, interview witnesses and piece together exactly what led to those fatal gunshots in a neighborhood many thought to be safe. Authorities are continuing to ask anyone with additional information to contact the Kingsport Police Department Detective Division at (423) 229-9429.
As the community reels from the tragedy, neighbors say the area near Sky South Road had always been quiet — and Monday’s violence left many shaken. The fact that both suspects were located so quickly may bring some relief, but questions still linger about motive, the relationship between the victim and the suspects, and what precedent may have led to such a violent act in the neighborhood.
For now, the residents of Kingsport are left grappling with loss and uncertainty, trusting that investigators will continue to pursue answers and that justice may be close at hand.
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