Who shot Herman Bailey? Detectives searching for witnesses of 2017 shooting

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Knoxville Police detectives are hoping first-hand witness accounts may be able to bring closure to a shooting that happened seven years ago.

34-year-old Herman Bailey’s case is one of more than 50 unsolved murder cases from Knoxville in the 2010s.

According to the Knoxville Police Department, Bailey, 34, was part of a group of people hanging out in an Austin Homes parking lot in the area of West New Street and Bell Street listening to music in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 23, 2017.

It’s unclear exactly what happened next, but a KPD spokesperson shared that there were some reports that Bailey was drunk and argumentative. During their investigation, detectives determined that Bailey had been involved in an argument with another man when multiple gunshots were fired.

Just after 1 a.m., Knoxville police responded to the scene, but Bailey had already been taken from the lot by a personal vehicle to Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center. He was dead when he arrived there, but medical staff were able to resuscitate and stabilize him enough to be transported to UT Medical Center.

Bailey remained at UT Medical Center in critical condition until he died on the morning of July 27, 2017.

Department spokesperson Scott Erland explained that detectives spoke to the person who took Bailey to the hospital and they reported they did it out of a sense of urgency and in an effort to save his life.

Seven years later, Erland said detectives still need first-hand witness accounts of the shooting. KPD knows there were multiple witnesses to the shooting, but only one person remained at the scene and gave the responding officers and investigators information.

Knoxville police described the suspect as a black male with a large stomach who was reportedly wearing a white tank top and acid washed blue jeans. He left the scene in a dark red four-door car, KPD added.

To this day, no one has been charged in the shooting. Erland explained that a strong person of interest was developed during the investigation, but no witnesses or additional evidence ever emerged to verify if the individual was involved.

Anyone with information that might help investigators is urged to contact the East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers or call Knoxville Police’s Homicide Unit at 865-215-7317.

There are multiple ways you can provide anonymous information to Crime Stoppers. You can call 865-215-7165 or **TIPS, and go online at www.easttnvalleycrimestoppers.org , via the free mobile app, P3 Tips, or the East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers Facebook page. Tipsters can remain anonymous and are eligible to receive a cash reward.

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