The Seymour man Blount County Sheriff’s deputies said killed his roommate last week appeared to fire the fatal shot while on the line with 911 operators, according to an affidavit for his arrest. Robert P. Berry, 40, Maples Road, was charged with criminal homicide after deputies found his roommate fatally wounded Thursday night, July 25.
Clinton Allen Lovingood was 51 years old.
Deputies initially announced they had a person of interest in custody Friday after responding to a report of a shooting the night before, but it wasn’t until the next day that details began to appear. According to a release from BCSO, deputies responded to the Seymour residence after Berry called the Blount County 911 Center, saying he’d shot his roommate. He surrendered without incident, they said.
An affidavit for his arrest filed Saturday says Berry initially requested law enforcement for a “disturbance” between him and Lovingood.
“Prior to law enforcement’s arrival dispatchers advised that they heard a loud noise via the open 911 line,” investigators wrote. “Shortly thereafter, the defendant placed a call to the 911 center and stated he had shot the victim.”
Lovingood had been shot in the chest with a 12-gauge shotgun, according to the affidavit. He was pronounced dead at the scene despite AMR attempts to revive him and taken to the Knox County Regional Forensics Center.
Investigators say they have recorded phone calls, witness statements and physical evidence in the case. BCSO has also thanked the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for aiding in the investigation.
In response to questions from The Daily Times, Blount County 911 Director Jimmy Long said the 911 operator who received Berry’s call is still working and “in good condition.”
“They are not having any issues,” he said.
On Saturday, BCSO promised investigators were still working the case. Berry remains in custody on a $1 million bond pending a 1:30 p.m. July 31 hearing in Blount County General Sessions Court.
Most Popular
Comments / 0