A man is behind bars in a fatal shooting in Chattanooga, Tennessee. According to CPD, a man has been arrested in connection to a homicide on Saturday morning at a homeless encampment near 6800 Bonny Oakes Drive. Around 11:45 a.m. on April 20, 2024, CPD officers responded to a report of a deceased person at the aforementioned location.
At the scene, officers found 40-year-old Jonathan McClellan deceased from an injury that was later confirmed to be a gunshot wound. During the investigation, it was determined that another incident happened earlier that day with the homicide suspect. A 38-year-old victim was walking in the 2400 block of Gunbarrel Road.
The suspect, who was known as “Craig”, began swinging a metal pipe at the victim. After the victim took the metal pipe, “Craig” allegedly shot at the victim. When the second victim returned to the homeless encampment, he found McClellan near his tent. McClellan informed him that Craig was at the encampment.
Victim two told McClellan what had happened. McClellan’s 39-year-old girlfriend and victim three was nearby. They started running and trying to hide in the woods from Craig who started shooting at them. McClellan was fatally shot. CPD’s Homicide Unit identified the suspect as 29-year-old Craig Lamont Jeffries. He was taken into custody and charged with 1st Degree Murder, Attempted 1st Degree Murder, Aggravated Kidnapping (x2), and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony.
Jay Skelton is an independent crime journalist with a passion for covering the uncovered and the under covered.