Man indicted in death of UT swimming director’s son

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ( WATE ) — The man accused of fatally striking Ben Kredich while driving under the influence has been indicted, according to the Knox County District Attorney’s office.

In August 2023 , Kredich, the son of Tennessee Director of Swimming & Diving Matt Kredich, was struck and killed while walking on the sidewalk along Kingston Pike near Thimbleberry Road. According to the Knoxville Police Department, Shannon Walker, 44, of Maryville was charged with vehicular homicide, DUI, and other charges following the crash. The case was sent to a grand jury in September of that year.

DA spokesperson Sean McDermott released that Walker’s case was presented to the grand jury on April 17 and the grand jury returned an indictment.

The 12-count indictment states that Shannon is facing:

• One count of vehicular homicide
• One count of vehicular homicide driving under the influence
• One count of DUI
• Five counts of reckless endangerment
• Two counts of possession with the intent to sell or deliver a controlled substance
• One count of possession with the intent to sell, deliver or manufacture xylazine
• One count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Benjamin Kredich is the only victim listed in the indictment who was killed, however, the two vehicular homicide charges differ as one places the blame of Kredich’s death on Walker’s alleged conduct and the other places the blame on Walker’s alleged intoxication.

Four of the reckless endangerment charges include the name of one of four individuals who were placed in imminent danger by Walker’s alleged actions, the indictment states. The fifth reckless engagement charge states that the actions Walker is accused of may have placed someone else whom the Grand Jury is not aware of in imminent danger.

The indictment also states that Walker is accused of being in possession of less than 200 grams of the Schedule II controlled substance ANPP as well as more than half of a gram of fentanyl, which is also a Schedule II controlled substance.

According to McDermott, an arraignment date has not yet been set.

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