Manhunt for Tennessee Homicide Suspect Shifts Out of Virginia County
Authorities have shifted their focus in the manhunt for a Tennessee homicide suspect away from a county in western Virginia. Lee County Sheriff Gary Parsons revealed that Jason Dockery is no longer in Virginia’s westernmost county, which borders Kentucky and Tennessee. However, due to the ongoing investigation’s sensitivity, no further details have been disclosed at this time.
Dockery, 44, is suspected of a shooting in Anderson County, Tennessee, outside Knoxville, on Tuesday, resulting in a woman’s death. Following the incident, Dockery led police on a car chase that concluded approximately 68 miles away in Ewing, Virginia. There, he abandoned his Chevrolet Sonic and fled into the woods, initiating a large-scale manhunt involving various law enforcement agencies, including Virginia State Police and the National Park Service. The U.S. Marshals are offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to Dockery’s capture.
Ewing, situated in the Appalachian Mountains near Virginia’s Wilderness Road State Park and Cumberland Gap National Park, became the center of this manhunt, spanning the borders of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Authorities consider Dockery armed and dangerous, urging residents to secure their homes and vehicles, resulting in some school closures. Sheriff Parsons expressed surprise that there had been no reports of attempts by the suspect to seek food or transportation, raising the possibility that he had left the area.
At 6:30 p.m., Parsons confirmed Dockery’s departure in a statement.
The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee reported that the fatal shooting occurred in the Heiskell area on Tuesday afternoon. An emergency call alerted authorities to a man shooting a woman while stopped on the side of the road. The victim was identified as Shystie Ranea Mayberry.
During the investigation, detectives initiated a search for Dockery, notifying neighboring law enforcement agencies. The pursuit of Dockery began in Tennessee’s Claiborne County, which borders Anderson County and Virginia’s Lee County.
Dockery, who resides in Knoxville, is also wanted for probation violations related to aggravated assault in Tennessee. The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office is processing Dockery’s vehicle for evidence, and an autopsy is being conducted on Mayberry’s body.
Sheriff Russell Barker expressed condolences to the victim’s family and gratitude for the assistance provided by multiple agencies.