Mahlon Tyrone Prater, a 42-year-old Black male, died on the night of November 1, 2019, following a violent altercation in West Knoxville, Tennessee. That evening, at approximately 9:40 p.m., Knoxville Police Department officers responded to a call on the 900 block of Piney Grove Church Road. Upon arrival, they discovered Prater with a head injury, and he was being attended to by emergency medical services.
Prater was urgently transported to the UT Medical Center, but he ultimately
succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. Witnesses at the scene reported hearing several gunshots. They also saw a silver 2012 Ford Fusion, driven by a male, leaving the area. Investigators noted that it was possible Prater had also been struck by the vehicle.
Friends and family remembered Prater as a kind and hardworking person who had a passion for the culinary arts. He was a graduate of the UT Culinary Arts program and had worked in several local restaurants. His death was a shock to the community, and he was mourned by his mother, sons, siblings, and other relatives.
The Knoxville Police Department's Violent Crimes Unit is actively investigating the case as a homicide. Authorities have urged anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward. To date, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified in connection with Mahlon Tyrone Prater's death. The investigation remains ongoing.
