On the evening of February 2, 2025, a burst of violence outside a tobacco store in Clarksville, Tennessee, ended the life of 15-year-old Ikehliayon Hite. A student at Northwest High School, the young male, who was Black/African American, was shot at Chum's Discount Tobacco Store located at 811 Peachers Mill Road. The Clarksville Police Department received a 911 call around 5:42 p.m. regarding the shooting. The caller, who had driven away from the scene, reported from Stonecrossing Drive that his passenger, Hite, had been shot.
When officers arrived at the caller's location, they found Ikehliayon Hite suffering from a gunshot wound. Emergency medical services transported him to Tennova Healthcare, but the teenager ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. Investigators quickly determined that the shooting itself had occurred back at the Peachers Mill Road tobacco shop. The death of the high school student prompted a mix of grief and calls for justice from his family and the wider community as police began the search for those responsible for the killing.
The investigation, led by the Clarksville Police Department's Special Operations Homicide Unit, soon focused on a person of interest. On February 13, 2025, authorities announced a significant development in the case with the arrest of 21-year-old Jay Von Farley. He was taken into custody and subsequently charged with criminal homicide in connection with Hite's death. Following his arrest, Farley was booked into the Montgomery County Jail. Officials have stated that the investigation remains active and that additional arrests are anticipated. Authorities have continued to ask for the public's help, encouraging anyone with information or video footage of the incident to come forward.
