KPD: Suspect in Kingsport shooting found at Johnson City hotel

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — A man was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon at a Johnson City hotel following a shooting Tuesday night in Kingsport, according to the Kingsport Police Department (KPD).

A news release from the KPD said Samuel Murphy, 41, of Kingsport, was located at a Johnson City hotel at around 3 p.m. Wednesday, the day after the alleged shooting occurred on Cherry Street in Kingsport.

The release said officers responded to the 1100 block of Cherry Street in Kingsport Tuesday at around 6:58 p.m. KPD officers located a victim who had an injury to his left ear.

Further investigation revealed that five adults, including the victim, were at a Cherry Street residence when Murphy reportedly arrived and presented a firearm, the release said. Murphy then allegedly fired the weapon and struck the victim in the left ear. No other injuries were reported as a result of the gunfire, the release said.

The KPD said Murphy left the scene prior before officers arrived, and the KPD was able to determine that the incident was isolated. The release said detectives then obtained a warrant for Murphy, charging him with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault and felony reckless endangerment.

Then early Wednesday morning, the release said a lead developed, and Kingsport detectives, with help from a SWAT team, executed a search warrant on a residence in the 1300 block of Garden Drive in an attempt to locate Murphy.

At around 3 p.m. Wednesday, “Kingsport Detectives along with agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Johnson City Police Department located Murphy at a hotel in Johnson City, TN,” the release states.

Murphy was transported to the Kingsport City Jail and booked on charges of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and felony reckless endangerment.

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