In the autumn of 2017, the life of 35-year-old Abraham James Brickz Owens, a Black male, was cut short in a burst of gunfire on a Knoxville, Tennessee street. On the evening of October 10th, Owens was shot multiple times in the 1600 block of Peltier Road. Wounded, he managed to flee, seeking help at a nearby home where the resident promptly called for aid. Rushed to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, Owens succumbed to his injuries.
The timing of his death was particularly noteworthy. Owens was just days away from facing a federal trial on Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations charges. He and several others were indicted in July 2016 in connection with a heroin distribution conspiracy. Authorities alleged that Owens was a member of the Mafia Insane Vice Lords, a gang with roots in Chicago that was involved in trafficking drugs in the Knoxville area. Specifically, they were accused of selling 150 grams of heroin within 1,000 feet of a school.
The investigation into Owens's murder remains open, and so far, no arrests have been made and no suspects have been publicly identified. Knoxville Police have indicated they believe Owens had a planned meeting with his assailant or assailants on the night he was killed. Following the shooting, the remaining defendants in the RICO case proceeded to trial and ultimately pleaded guilty to the charges.
Law enforcement officials have appealed to the public for any information that might lead to the apprehension of those responsible for Abraham Owens's death. A cash reward has been offered for tips that result in an arrest. He is survived by his parents, siblings, and three daughters who are still awaiting answers in the unsolved murder of their loved one.
