Gage William Artist King, a 16-year-old male from the Mill Branch Community in Scott County, Tennessee, died on Sunday, April 19, 2026, after a shooting in Huntsville. What began as a Sunday afternoon in the rural Byrges Creek area turned into a fatal scene when deputies with the Scott County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of gunfire in the 100 block of Byrges Creek Road.
When deputies arrived, they found Gage suffering from a gunshot wound.
He was still alive when first responders reached him, and he was taken to an area hospital for treatment. Despite those efforts, he later died from his injuries. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation identified him publicly as the teenager killed in the shooting, and the case was described as active and ongoing.
Gage’s death struck a young life from a large family and community network. His obituary remembered him as Gage William Artist King and listed his parents as Travis and Kayla King. He was survived by grandparents, great-grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, close friends, and many others who knew him. Funeral visitation was scheduled for April 25, 2026, at Jones & Son Funeral Home in Oneida, followed by funeral services on April 26, 2026, with burial at King Private Cemetery in Helenwood, Tennessee.
In the days after the shooting, authorities released very limited information about what led to the gunfire. Public reports said investigators had not disclosed a motive, had not publicly named any suspect or suspects, and had not announced any arrests in connection with Gage’s death. The Scott County Sheriff’s Office said no further details could be released at that time, while the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation continued assisting with the investigation.
As of the available reports, the case remained unresolved publicly. The known facts are that Gage was shot in the Byrges Creek area of Huntsville, transported for medical care, and later died. The unanswered questions—who fired the shot, what happened in the moments before it, and whether criminal charges will follow—remain with investigators.
