In the quiet town of Newport, Tennessee, a beloved member of the community, Gary Douglas Cameron, a 55-year-old male, met a tragic and untimely end on September 6, 2023. His life was cut short in a violent confrontation at a residence on Rankin Hill Road, leaving a family and a town in mourning.
The circumstances that led to Gary Cameron's death began to unfold when his son, Garrett Cameron, appeared at the home. According to witnesses, an argument erupted at the front door.
Garrett was reportedly demanding the keys to a vehicle and was visibly agitated. In the ensuing moments, as Gary Cameron stood in his own living room, he was fatally shot.
After the shooting, Garrett allegedly threatened other individuals in the house, demanding the car keys before fleeing the scene in one of his father's vehicles. The Cocke County Sheriff's Office responded to the call and apprehended him a short distance from the home. He was taken into custody without further incident.
Following his arrest, Garrett Cameron was charged with first-degree murder, especially aggravated robbery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault, theft of property over $1,000, and unlawful drug paraphernalia. A bond was set at $2 million, and he was booked into the Blount County Detention Center. His initial court appearance was scheduled for September 22, 2023. Reports also surfaced detailing a history of previous arrests for the younger Cameron, including a recent incident involving a firearm and another where he was found intoxicated and making irrational claims. The community was left to grapple with the loss of a man described by his sister as an amazing person who would give the shirt off his back to help anyone.
