On a late Friday afternoon in Dayton, Tennessee, the life of 52-year-old Roy 'Junior' Hickman Jr. was brought to a violent and unexpected end. On February 24, 2023, the lifelong resident of the small town was fatally shot in the driveway of his own home on Burke Lane. The incident, which unfolded around 5:52 p.m., shattered the quiet of the neighborhood and left a family grieving a man they remember as generous and always willing to help others without expecting anything in return. Hickman, a Caucasian male, was found by Rhea County Sheriff's deputies with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper torso and leg.
The events that culminated in Hickman's death reportedly began with a simple disagreement. His neighbor, 44-year-old Jackie Goss, had approached him asking for a ride. When Hickman declined, Goss left the property, only to return approximately five minutes later armed with a rifle. A witness, who was sitting in a car in the driveway at the time, saw Goss point the weapon at Hickman. The witness then heard the sound of multiple gunshots and saw Hickman collapse to the ground.
Following the shooting, Goss retreated to a nearby house. Law enforcement quickly surrounded the residence, and after about an hour of tense standoff, Goss surrendered to the authorities without further incident. Investigators at the scene recovered four spent 7.62x39mm shell casings near Hickman's body, evidence of the deadly encounter. A subsequent search of Goss's home uncovered two SKS rifles and ammunition that matched the casings found at the crime scene.
Initially, Jackie Goss was charged with criminally negligent homicide and was held without bond at the Rhea County Jail. However, as the investigation progressed, the charges against him were elevated. A grand jury later indicted Goss on the more severe charge of first-degree murder. If convicted of this charge, he faces the possibility of a life sentence in prison. Hickman's daughter, Ashley, expressed her family's profound loss and their hope for justice, stating that her father 'didn't deserve this at all.'
