In the backyard of a Knoxville, Tennessee home on May 18, 2023, the life of 48-year-old Chickenia Livingston, a female employee of East Tennessee State University, was tragically cut short. She was an innocent bystander in a dispute that escalated to fatal violence. The events of that day unfolded when 76-year-old John Rooker DeLoach became embroiled in a heated argument with another individual.
The verbal altercation quickly turned physical when DeLoach struck the other person with his
walking cane. When the individual retaliated by taking the cane and striking him back, DeLoach pulled out a handgun and began firing. It was during this chaotic moment that Chickenia Livingston, who was not involved in the initial conflict, was struck by a gunshot. Though the exact nature of the relationship between Livingston and DeLoach is not widely reported, they were known to one another.
Following the shooting, DeLoach barricaded himself inside the residence, leading to a standoff with the Knoxville Police Department that lasted for approximately three hours. Crisis negotiators were eventually successful in convincing DeLoach to surrender, and he was taken into custody without further incident. Chickenia Livingston was found in the backyard and, despite medical attention, was pronounced dead after being removed from the scene.
John Rooker DeLoach was arrested and initially charged with first-degree murder. In January 2025, a jury found the now 78-year-old DeLoach guilty of second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, reckless endangerment, and two firearms-related charges. His sentencing was scheduled for February 28, 2025, where he faced a minimum of 15 to 25 years in prison for the murder conviction alone.
