In the late summer of 2017, the community of Speedwell, Tennessee, was shaken by the violent death of one of its own. Zachary Scott Dick, a 53-year-old male, was fatally shot on the evening of August 7th. The incident, which stemmed from an ongoing property dispute, cut short the life of a man known for his love of the outdoors and farming.
The events of that fateful day unfolded when authorities were dispatched to a residence on Leach-Medley Road. Upon arrival, they discovered Zachary Dick unresponsive, having sustained a gunshot wound. The investigation quickly pointed to his neighbor, 47-year-old Hank Austin Williams. According to reports from the Claiborne County Sheriff's Office, the dispute between the two men had escalated, leading Williams to allegedly shoot Dick with a 12-gauge shotgun.
Witnesses at the scene provided accounts of the moments leading up to the shooting. It was reported that Dick was removing a fence post when Williams confronted him. Williams's own mother allegedly witnessed her son shoot Dick in the back. Following the incident, Williams returned to his home. He was taken into custody by law enforcement without incident and was subsequently charged with criminal homicide. The alleged murder weapon was recovered from a vehicle at the scene.
In the wake of the shooting, Hank Austin Williams was incarcerated at the Claiborne County Jail, with his bond set at $1 million. A Claiborne County Grand Jury later handed down a true bill, formally indicting him for the murder of Zachary Scott Dick. While the initial legal steps were taken to bring the case to trial, publicly available information does not detail the final outcome of the court proceedings, including whether a trial took place or if a conviction was secured.
