Knoxville Police investigators are continuing to review evidence today related
to the Thursday evening shooting of two men inside an apartment in the Fort
Sanders neighborhood.
UT student Crestus Roser was injured and former student Sawyer Webb was
killed. Knoxville Police are following several leads and have determined the
apparent motive.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Knoxville
Police Department's crime information line at 865-215-7212. Callers can remain
anonymous.
Knoxville Police Department has primary jurisdiction for the Fort Sanders area.
The densely populated neighborhood is adjacent to the north side of campus
and it is home to a large number of UT students, as well as some faculty and
staff. There are also numerous residents in the community who have no
affiliation with the university.
With this in mind, UTPD and KPD have partnered in enhancing patrols of the
area over recent years. Both agencies assign a designated patrol to the Fort
Sanders area daily, and respond to incidents that occur. The agencies work
on specific initiatives to identify potential problems and raise overall
awareness about safety. UTPD supplements the KPD patrol function in the
area with bicycle officers, foot patrols, and motorcycles along with marked
and unmarked police vehicles.
This semester, UT Police, Knoxville Police, the Dean of Students Office, and
Student Government Association have conducted several "safety blitz"
outreach efforts, making more than 1000 contacts with people in the
neighborhood. Ongoing plans will further involve community members in crime
prevention and reduction initiatives.
UTPD is emphasizing that faculty, students, and staff in and around the UT
campus should:
Remain aware of their surroundings: Perpetrators of criminal activity often
target people they perceive to be distracted, intoxicated, or unaware of their
surroundings. By paying attention to their surroundings and avoiding being
intoxicated, individuals can greatly reduce their chance of becoming a victim.
Avoid walking alone at night. Be wary when approached by strangers, as
robberies and assaults often stem from aggressive panhandling. Students are
also urged to avoid opening or unlocking doors for people they do not know.
Also ensure all windows and doors are locked at all times, even when you are
home.
Most serious crime reported around our campus has occurred in the early
morning hours. UTPD encourages every member of the community to utilize
safety resources including the 100 blue phones around campus, which provide
a direct link to UTPD and the T-Link night shuttle. You can also contact UTPD
directly at (865) 974-3114.
Please contact KPD or UTPD any time you need assistance or notice anything
suspicious. You can also provide information or report a crime anonymously at
http://web.utk.edu/~utpolice/Silent_Witness.html
To receive additional safety information and other UTPD news, visit
http://facebook.com/utkpd or email [log in to unmask]
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