On a cold January day in 2021, a duck hunting trip on the serene waters of Reelfoot Lake in Obion County, Tennessee, turned into a scene of shocking violence that ended the life of 25-year-old Zachery Grooms of Union City. Grooms, a White male with a passion for the outdoors and aspirations of a career in law enforcement, was enjoying a day in a duck blind with his friend, 26-year-old Chance Black, and another hunting companion, Jeffrey Crabtree.
An avid and skilled duck hunter, Grooms was known for his dedication to the sport, even managing his work as a watermelon farm manager to ensure he was home for duck season.
The tragic events unfolded on January 25, 2021, when the group of friends was approached by 70-year-old David Vowell of Martin, Tennessee. Accounts from the surviving witness state that Vowell engaged the hunters in a verbal altercation before he unexpectedly opened fire. In a sudden burst of violence, both Grooms and Black were fatally shot. The motive for the unprovoked attack remains unclear, leaving a community to grapple with a senseless loss.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Vowell fled the scene, prompting an extensive manhunt led by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Authorities quickly identified Vowell as the suspect and issued warrants for his arrest on two counts of first-degree murder. The search for Vowell captivated the region as law enforcement scoured the area surrounding the lake. There was speculation that Vowell may have had assistance in escaping or had succumbed to the harsh winter elements.
The search came to a grim conclusion on January 31, 2021, when Vowell's body was discovered in the waters of Reelfoot Lake. While his death brought an end to the manhunt, it left many questions unanswered for the grieving families of Zachery Grooms and Chance Black. The case was a stark reminder of how a seemingly peaceful day in nature could turn deadly, leaving a lasting scar on the close-knit community of Union City.
