KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) – Authorities have arrested a suspect in the fatal shooting of a rural King in Knox County. That suspect is now in jail.
Authorities say 18-year-old Larry McBee Jr. McBee is accused of killing and driving a Rural King employee. Authorities finally tracked him down and arrested him at 3:38 Friday morning.
“I’m glad the outcome came out the way it did,” said Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler.
McBee is charged with second-degree murder after investigators say he entered a store in Halls in rural King and shot one of the store’s employees.
Authorities searched for McBee for about 15 hours before finding him and arresting him at a home on McDonald Road in Knoxville. Spangler couldn’t confirm it was McBee’s house.
“Once we put it out on social media, we started getting some leads to look at and follow,” Spangler said. “That’s how it started. And not only in Blount County, but with the help of Granger County, he helped by getting information from them as well.
The attack took place on Thursday morning at 10:38 am, but most of the people in the area did not know what happened. That includes neighboring business owner Smoke Pit Cigars and Tobacco, which he said wasn’t shipped until one of the Country King employees walked into the store.
“The lady next door came over and told me what happened,” said Reuben Stansberry, co-owner of the cigar store. “But she’s all torn up. I can’t understand what she’s saying.”
Around 11:30 a.m., Stansberry realized exactly what was going on.
“We expected a load to come,” Stansberry said. “I went back and opened the door and saw the body lying there. I closed the door and went in.
Country King officials declined to comment on the situation.
The victim was 22 years old. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office has not yet released his name.
McBee is being held at the Roger Wilson Detention Facility in Knoxville and has a bond hearing set for Wednesday.
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