Sun. Apr 28th, 2024

Law enforcement officials in Tennessee are searching for a man who allegedly shot and killed a woman while on the side of the road Tuesday, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office said.

Officials identified the shooting victim as 38-year-old Shysti Renea Mayberry. She was shot around 1 p.m. in the 200 block of Moores Gap Road in Heiskell, ACSO said.

The suspect, 44-year-old Jason Dockery, who has a long arrest history dating to his teens, is believed to have at some point stopped Tuesday at a home in Union County. He “left an infant child” and made his way to Claiborne County, according to ACSO.

Authorities then pursued him in Claiborne County, but the chase ended around 3 p.m. in Lee County, Virginia, when he ran into the woods. The vehicle he was driving was recovered and returned to Anderson County for evidence processing.

As of Wednesday, multiple law enforcement officials were still attempting to locate Dockery. Lee County Public Schools are closed because of the search.

However, by 6:30 p.m., Lee County Sheriff Gary Parsons said authorities confirmed Dockery was no longer in the area. His full statement is below.

“We have confirmed that the Suspect in the Manhunt has left Lee County, Virginia but because of the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation, no further information can be released at this time. Once resolution of the investigation is completed Sheriff Parsons will provide another official update.”

The U.S. Marshals said they started looking further south to investigate leads and said Dockery could be reaching out to contacts for help. They also confirmed that Dockery found a ride to the Union County area and have stopped searching for him in the Lee County area.

“We will fully prosecute anyone who knowingly provides assistance to him,” they said.

They said Dockery is about 5’6″ tall, believed to be armed and is “a very dangerous individual.” They are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

Dockery just pleaded guilty in June to aggravated assault in Sevier County after facing multiple charges that included aggravated kidnapping of a woman. In that case, he is serving a four-year sentence on supervised probation, according to court records.

A Sevier County grand jury indicted him in the case in 2021. Records allege he choked the woman in May 2020 and fired a gun in her home. She is not the same victim who was shot and killed Tuesday in Anderson County.

Dockery’s Sevier County violation of probation documents aren’t public yet because he hasn’t been served with them, court officials said.

Dockery, who has lived in Knoxville, has a conviction record that includes aggravated assault (failure to protect a child); multiple counts of theft for various incidents; aggravated burglary; multiple counts of evading arrest through the years; driving without a valid license; public intoxication; marijuana possession; disorderly conduct, records show.

If you have any sightings, tips or information about Dockery’s whereabouts, call 911, email USMS84.TIPS@usdoj.gov, or call the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 276-346-7777.

Anyone with information about his location can also reach out to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office at (865) 457-2414, Ext. 9, to be directed to U.S. Marshals.

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By Buffy Gunner

Independent Journalist + Business Owner | Lover of all things true crime. Mantra: Only YOU can be YOU. | Los Angeles Born | buffygunner@illicitdeeds.com

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