In the winter of 2021, the Knoxville, Tennessee community was shaken by the violent death of 50-year-old Rob Goebel, a respected local restaurateur. On the morning of Sunday, January 24th, Goebel was at his establishment, Cazzy's Corner Grill, when a former employee, Christopher Robert MacGuire, entered the restaurant. An altercation ensued, culminating in MacGuire opening fire.
Goebel and another employee, 26-year-old Alexis Clayton, were both shot.
Clayton was pronounced dead at the scene, while Goebel was rushed to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in critical condition. Despite medical efforts, Rob Goebel succumbed to his wounds and was pronounced dead that same night. The incident, which unfolded at a popular neighborhood eatery, left friends, family, and patrons in a state of shock and grief.
Following the shooting, MacGuire fled the scene. A search was launched, and law enforcement officers later discovered his body in a car not far from the restaurant. The investigation determined that MacGuire had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. With the suspect deceased, the case was classified as a murder-suicide, and no arrests were made. The tragic event was described by the restaurant's owner as devastating and heartbreaking, prompting an outpouring of support for the victims' families and the staff of Cazzy's Corner Grill.
