In the winter of 2023, a fatal encounter stemming from a traffic accident cut short the life of 30-year-old Jeronimo Gomez in North Knoxville. On the evening of January 17th, a confrontation occurred on Bradshaw Garden Road following a vehicle collision. During the dispute, the other driver involved shot Gomez. Emergency services transported him to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The male shooter fled the scene before law enforcement arrived, initiating a widespread search for the then-unknown assailant.
The Knoxville Police Department promptly launched an investigation into the homicide. Detectives began piecing together the events of that night, appealing to the public for any information that might lead to the suspect's identification. Key evidence in their investigation included a description of the suspect's vehicle, a 2012 Midnight Black Toyota Camry with noticeable front-end and driver's-side damage from the crash. A crucial detail was a missing door handle from the suspect's car, which was recovered at the scene of the shooting. Investigators also obtained surveillance footage from a nearby residence that, while not capturing the shooting itself, recorded the suspect's voice in the immediate aftermath of the gunshots. This audio evidence became a significant part of the public appeal for assistance.
After months of diligent investigation, a breakthrough came in the case. On June 1, 2023, the Knoxville Police Department announced the arrest of 28-year-old Samer Jurdi in connection with the death of Jeronimo Gomez. Members of the KPD's Community Engagement Response Team took Jurdi into custody. Following the extensive investigation by the Homicide Unit, a Knox County Grand Jury handed down an indictment against Jurdi on multiple charges. These included voluntary manslaughter, tampering with evidence, leaving the scene of an accident, and employing a firearm during a dangerous felony. Jurdi was subsequently booked into the Roger D. Wilson Detention Facility.
