In the summer of 2014, the life of Paul Shepherd Jr., a 40-year-old man, was tragically cut short in Knoxville, Tennessee. On the afternoon of Sunday, June 29th, while working as a taxi driver, a job he had only started two days prior, Shepherd was shot multiple times. The incident occurred in the Montgomery Village area of South Knoxville. After being shot, his taxi crashed into a fire hydrant at the intersection of Sims Road and Cook Drive.
He was transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.
The investigation into the shooting revealed that Shepherd had picked up two passengers in the Fort Sanders area for what would be his final fare. Witnesses at the scene of the shooting saw two young men exiting the taxi and fleeing after the shots were fired. Investigators found broken glass and empty cartridges on the road, painting a grim picture of the violent encounter. The motive for the killing is suspected to have been robbery.
Despite the investigation yielding descriptions of the two men seen running from the scene, the case remains unsolved. One suspect was described as a Black male, standing five feet ten inches tall and weighing approximately 170 pounds. The second suspect was described as being five feet eight inches tall and weighing around 160 pounds. Both men were reported to have short black hair and to be clean-shaven. In the years following the murder, the Knoxville Police Department has revisited the case and continued to ask for the public's help in bringing those responsible to justice. However, no arrests have been made, and no charges have been filed in the death of Paul Shepherd Jr.
