On the evening of December 7, 2022, in Knoxville, Tennessee, a violent sequence of events led to the death of 40-year-old Demetrius Bomar. The incident began as a targeted robbery attempt at a home on Lansing Avenue. Two men confronted Lamar Harshaw, setting in motion a chain of events that would soon turn fatal. The confrontation escalated and moved to a residence on Lay Avenue, where both Harshaw and Bomar were shot by the two assailants.
After the shooting, both victims attempted to flee the scene in their separate vehicles. They managed to drive to the intersection of Brooks Avenue and Biddle Street before stopping, where they were discovered by responding Knoxville Police Department officers. Both men were rushed to the UT Medical Center for treatment of their gunshot wounds. Despite medical efforts, Demetrius Bomar was pronounced dead at the hospital. Harshaw, the other victim, was hospitalized in critical condition.
The investigation into the shooting was led by the Knoxville Police Department's Violent Crimes Unit. In the months following the incident, the investigation led to the identification of two suspects. In May 2023, authorities announced the arrests of 22-year-old Rodney Smartt and 24-year-old Ayla Gilbert. The U.S. Marshals Service and the Smoky Mountain Fugitive Task Force located and apprehended both individuals over a 24-hour period. Gilbert was arrested at a home on Dinwiddie Street, while Smartt was taken into custody in the Walter P. Taylor Homes area. At the time of his arrest, Smartt was found to be in possession of a stolen firearm.
Following their arrests, both Rodney Smartt and Ayla Gilbert were faced with multi-count indictments. The charges brought against them included first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, and especially aggravated kidnapping in connection with the death of Demetrius Bomar.
