In the quiet community of Mountain City, Tennessee, the life of Kirby Dale Proffitt, a 59-year-old White male, was cut short on September 11, 2025. Known as an expert craftsman, he had a passion for woodworking, creating jewelry and keepsake boxes. On that Thursday evening, just before 6 p.m., law enforcement responded to a call on Spear Branch Road and found Proffitt unresponsive at a residence, having sustained a fatal gunshot wound.
Despite the efforts of first responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the shooting, conducted by the Johnson County Sheriff's Office with assistance from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, quickly centered on a suspect close to the victim. The following morning, authorities arrested Kirby Proffitt's own brother, 55-year-old Kevin Proffitt.
Kevin Proffitt was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder in connection with his brother's death. He was subsequently booked into the Johnson County Jail, where he was held on a $1 million bond. The community was left to mourn the loss of Kirby Proffitt, who was remembered by friends and family as a man with a big heart who was loved by everyone. A graveside service was held on September 15, 2025, at the Proffitt Cemetery.
