In the fall of 2020, the life of Kyree Marcus Holmes, a 24-year-old Black male from Memphis, was tragically cut short in Kingsport, Tennessee. On the evening of October 14, 2020, in the West Carters Valley community on Haynes Drive, Holmes was fatally shot in the chest. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. The Sullivan County Sheriff's Office responded to a call about the shooting at approximately 9:30 p.m.
and launched an investigation into the incident.
Through their investigation, authorities identified a primary suspect in the shooting. Witnesses at the scene provided crucial information that led investigators to Roger 'Rabbit' Cornelius Roberts, a 25-year-old white male from Church Hill. The Sullivan County Sheriff's Office issued a warrant for his arrest on charges of second-degree murder. They also cautioned the public not to approach Roberts if they saw him and to contact law enforcement immediately.
Following a search, Roger Cornelius Roberts was located and arrested without incident in Castlewood, Virginia. The arrest was made by deputies from the Russell County Sheriff's Office. After his capture, Roberts was held by the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority pending extradition back to Sullivan County to face trial for the murder of Kyree Marcus Holmes.
