In the spring of 2021, the life of a young African American woman, 20-year-old Kielonnie Lane Stocks, was tragically cut short in Chattanooga, Tennessee. On May 11th, what initially appeared to be a fall resulting in a fatal head injury soon unraveled into a story of domestic violence and murder. First responders found Kielonnie with head trauma and facial swelling, and she was bleeding from her nose.
Despite medical efforts, she was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The initial account of an accidental fall was quickly dispelled as the investigation uncovered a more sinister truth: Kielonnie had been shot in the back of the head. The focus of the investigation soon turned to her 21-year-old ex-boyfriend, Terrick Thorne. In the hours leading up to the fatal incident, Thorne had purchased a. 380 caliber firearm. The couple had been embroiled in a dispute over tax return money, an argument that had been escalating for a couple of weeks.
Following the shooting, Thorne was arrested and charged with criminal homicide and unlawful possession of a firearm. During the investigation, he admitted to shooting Kielonnie, though he maintained that it was an accident. A search of his residence uncovered the firearm used in the shooting, as well as several of Kielonnie's personal belongings, including her cell phone, debit cards, an iPad, and her Apple watch. It was also revealed that Thorne had a prior conviction for domestic assault involving Kielonnie, which legally prohibited him from owning a firearm. Ultimately, Terrick Thorne was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 35 years in state prison for the death of Kielonnie Lane Stocks.
