In the quiet community of Lynn Garden in Kingsport, Tennessee, a series of violent events unfolded on the morning of December 7, 2020, culminating in the tragic death of 60-year-old Gary Dean McMeans. A beloved husband, father, and grandfather, McMeans was a man who was said to have never met a stranger and always wore a smile. His life was abruptly cut short during a string of felonies that shook the neighborhood.
The day began around 9:30 AM with a home invasion in the 100 block of
Clark Avenue, sparking a significant response from the Kingsport Police Department. This was just the start of a series of related crimes in the area. At a separate location, Gary D. McMeans was shot and killed. The ensuing investigation quickly pointed to a single individual being responsible for the entire crime spree, creating a sense of urgency to apprehend the suspect and restore safety to the community.
Law enforcement identified Michael J. Shelton as the lone suspect and took him into custody, bringing a swift sense of relief to the alarmed public. Initially, Shelton was charged with offenses related to the home invasion, including Aggravated Robbery, Especially Aggravated Kidnapping, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. He was incarcerated at the Kingsport City Jail with a bond set at $1,000,000.
As the extensive investigation continued, involving multiple crime scenes, authorities announced that additional charges concerning the death of Mr. McMeans were pending. The Kingsport Police Department assured the public that with Shelton's arrest, there was no further danger to the community. In the days that followed, Shelton faced a host of new charges, including two counts of Attempt to Commit First Degree Murder, Especially Aggravated Robbery, multiple counts of Employing a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony, and Especially Aggravated Kidnapping, among others, as he remained incarcerated in the Sullivan County Jail.
