Do you know who killed James Arp in 1995? In the summer of 1995, a young man's life was cut short in an act of violence that continues to baffle investigators. James Shawn Arp, a 19-year-old male, was fatally shot in Knoxville, Tennessee, on the night of August 2nd. His case remains an unsolved homicide, a cold case that the Knoxville Police Department continues to appeal to the public for any information that might lead to a breakthrough.
On that fateful evening, Arp, who was reportedly married and with a child on the way, had just finished his shift at a local Little Caesars. He met up with a friend, Johnny Ray Cunningham, and the two decided to purchase marijuana. Their search led them to the area of College Street and University Avenue, where they encountered an unknown street dealer.
According to Cunningham, the sole witness to the tragic events that followed, the drug deal went horribly wrong. He told police that the dealer shot Arp at the intersection of Callaway Street and West 5th Avenue.
In the chaotic aftermath, Cunningham disappeared and has not been located since, adding another layer of mystery to the case. His absence has left a significant void in the investigation, as his testimony is crucial to understanding the precise sequence of events and identifying the shooter.
To this day, no arrests have been made in connection with the murder of James Shawn Arp. The identity of the street dealer who pulled the trigger remains unknown. The Knoxville Police Department continues to hold the case open, hopeful that with the passage of time, someone with knowledge of the crime will come forward. They periodically reissue calls for public assistance, urging anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact them or East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers. The case serves as a somber reminder of a life lost and a quest for justice that has endured for decades. 
