In the early morning hours of December 6, 2021, a grim discovery was made in an alley off Juanita Cannon Street in Knoxville, Tennessee. Responding to a call around 5:25 a.m. about an unresponsive man, Knoxville Police officers and emergency medical personnel arrived to find the body of Joseph Hines. Hines, a 27-year-old male from Knoxville, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The investigation was quickly handed over to the KPD Violent Crimes Unit, who determined that Hines had sustained at least one gunshot wound.
The community was left seeking answers as investigators worked to piece together the events leading to Hines' death. In the days following the discovery, the police identified Hines and appealed to the public for any information that might lead to a suspect. Despite their efforts, no suspect information was immediately available, and the investigation continued without any arrests being made. East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers offered a cash reward for any information that could lead to an arrest, assuring tipsters that they could remain anonymous.
As time passed, the case of Joseph Hines, known affectionately as 'Little Joseph' to his loved ones, remained unsolved. His family remembered him not as a statistic found in an alley, but as a beloved son, brother, nephew, and cousin who was funny and could light up a room. A year after his death, his family and friends were still without closure, facing another holiday season with his absence. The Knoxville Police Department continues to seek information from the public, hoping that a crucial tip will bring justice for Joseph Hines and his grieving family.
