On a late winter evening in Munford, Tennessee, a long-standing dispute between a landlord and his tenant reached a fatal conclusion. Joseph 'Joey' Benjamin Guy, a 48-year-old white male, was shot and killed on Saturday, February 27, 2021. The incident occurred at a residence on Gin House Lake Road, a property owned by Guy where the shooter, Donald Raye Jones, was a tenant.
Deputies from the Tipton County Sheriff's Office responded to a call at approximately 9:53 p.m.
regarding a home invasion where the resident had shot an assailant. Upon arrival, they found Guy deceased at the scene from an apparent gunshot wound. The initial investigation suggested that Guy had entered the home where Jones was living, which prompted the shooting. The two men, who lived near each other, were known to have an ongoing civil dispute, and law enforcement had been called to the property previously.
The aftermath of the shooting was marked by conflicting narratives from those close to both men. The Tipton County Sheriff's Office initially framed the investigation as a 'home invasion resulting in a homicide.' However, Guy's family vehemently disputed this portrayal, asserting that the act was premeditated murder. They claimed that Guy, who owned the property, had a key and was entering to check on the residence, believing it to be vacant. The family accused Jones of lying in wait and 'cold-bloodedly' shooting Guy.
In contrast, the shooter's son maintained that his father acted in self-defense. He stated that they had a legal right to be in the home and that law enforcement had been made aware of their agreement with Guy. The situation was further complicated by differing accounts of the tenancy arrangement, with some saying Jones was living there while making repairs, and Guy's brother insisting he was trespassing.
In the immediate days following the shooting, the investigation was active and ongoing. The Tipton County Sheriff's Office collected evidence and interviewed witnesses, stating that the complete findings would be turned over to the District Attorney General's office for review. At that time, Donald Raye Jones had not been arrested or charged in connection with the death of Joseph Guy. Online sources available do not provide information on whether any charges were ultimately filed or the final outcome of the investigation.
