In the summer of 2017, the life of 44-year-old Rowdy Yates was cut short in Bristol, Tennessee, following a fatal altercation. The incident, which unfolded on July 8, 2017, stemmed from an argument that ultimately led to Yates being shot and killed.
The man responsible for his death, Johnny Royston Jr., became the subject of a manhunt that lasted for several days before he was apprehended by authorities.
The shooting took place at Royston's camper located on Eaton's Private Drive in the Highway 421 area of Sullivan County.
Following his capture, Royston faced legal proceedings for the death of Yates. In March 2021, he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in a Blountville criminal court. In addition to the murder charge, Royston also pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence and smuggling opioids into the county jail after his arrest. His guilty plea resulted in a 20-year prison sentence, to be followed by 25 years of probation.
