Do you know who murdered Paul Shepherd in 2014? In the summer of 2014, a Knoxville family was shattered by a senseless act of violence that claimed the life of Paul Terry Shepherd Jr. At 40 years old, he was a devoted husband and father of three who had recently started a new job as a taxi driver to support his loved ones. It was on a Sunday, June 29th, only his second day on the job, when his life was tragically cut short.
That afternoon, Shepherd picked up what would be his final fare in the Fort Sanders area of Knoxville.
Witnesses later reported seeing two men flag him down. Shortly after, around 3 p.m., gunshots echoed through the South Knoxville neighborhood of Montgomery Village. Shepherd's taxi, now without a driver in control, crashed into a fire hydrant. When police arrived, they found Shepherd inside the vehicle, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, but his injuries were too severe, and he passed away a short time later.
Investigators at the scene discovered broken glass and spent cartridges on the road, painting a grim picture of the final moments of Shepherd's life. Witnesses provided descriptions of two men seen running from the taxi after the shooting. One suspect was described as a Black male, approximately five feet ten inches tall and weighing under 170 pounds. The second suspect was described as being about five feet eight inches tall and weighing 160 pounds. Both men were said to have short black hair and were clean-shaven.
Despite having these descriptions and recovering evidence from the scene, the case quickly grew cold. The Knoxville Police Department has revisited the investigation over the years, with authorities stating they believe robbery was the motive for the brutal slaying. They also suspect that the individuals responsible may have lived in the area where the shooting occurred. To this day, the murder of Paul Shepherd Jr. remains unsolved. No arrests have been made, and no suspects have been officially named or charged in connection with his death. The case stands as a painful open wound for his family and the community, with law enforcement continuing to appeal to the public for any information that could finally bring his killers to justice.
