Jaqwan Gillette

On the evening of March 28, 2022, a planned meeting in a Dollar General parking lot on Sutherland Avenue in Knoxville, Tennessee, erupted into a fatal exchange of gunfire. The incident claimed the life of Jaqwan Gillette, an 18-year-old Black man. According to prosecutors, the chain of events began when Shani Harris drove Gillette and a 17-year-old male to the location to buy marijuana. However, Gillette and the teen reportedly planned to rob the seller instead.

Prosecutors stated that Gillette held a gun to the seller’s back, prompting the man to turn and fire at him. A shootout ensued, during which Gillette, the 17-year-old, and Harris all fired at the seller, who fled to his car. In the exchange, Gillette was struck by at least one bullet. First responders received a call about shots fired around 8:15 p.m. Minutes later, another call directed them to the nearby Sutherland Flats apartment complex, where Gillette had collapsed in a lower parking lot. Officers and emergency medical personnel attempted to render aid, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Knoxville Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit launched an investigation that quickly led to arrests. On March 30, 2022, police arrested Shani Harris. Shortly thereafter, they took a 17-year-old boy into custody on juvenile petitions. His identity was not publicly released due to his age. Both were initially charged with attempted first-degree murder and attempted aggravated robbery. Harris also faced a charge of possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.

On February 27, 2023, Shani Harris, then 21, accepted a plea agreement. She pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of reckless endangerment in connection with the fatal shooting. As part of the deal, her initial charges were dismissed. A judge sentenced Harris to four years, with the opportunity to apply for judicial diversion. This court resolution was the latest development in the case as of February 2023.