A Tennessee man was taken into custody last week after an argument over dog poop turned deadly.
According to the New York Post, the incident occurred Saturday night in north Knoxville, a small city located roughly three hours outside of Nashville. Local police responded to a report of gunfire at home in the 400 block of E. Oldham Avenue, where the ultimately found an unconscious man with at least one gunshot wound.
Authorities said officers reportedly made resuscitation efforts, but the unidentified victim succumbed to injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Law enforcement officials eventually identified the suspected gunman as 34-year-old Stefen White, a Knoxville resident who lived on the same property as the victim.
“Responding officers attempted life-saving efforts, but the victim was ultimately pronounced dead as a result of his injuries,” officials said in a statement to WVLT. “All involved parties are accounted for and the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation.”
Police records obtained by Law & Order state that White is arguing self-defense: “The defendant claims the victim punched him in the face, but witness statement do not corroborate that statement.”
According to an arrest warrant obtained by the outlet, the shooting stemmed from an argument between White and a neighbor, who confronted the suspect over dog excrement in their shared yard. After the neighbor asked White to pick up after his pooch, White allegedly pulled out a handgun and shot the victim in the chest.
The man was ultimately charged with second-degree murder and booked into the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility, where he’s being held on $100,000 bond. His next court appearance in scheduled for Jan. 11.
The case remains under investigation.
