Early Monday chaos erupted at a north Knoxville inn, spurring a police investigation after a woman was shot and found in the parking lot of a nearby Hooters. The Knoxville Police Department reported officers responded to a shooting at the Red Roof Inn on Central Avenue Pike around 4:15 a.m. on April 29, 2024.

Authorities were called to the scene but were quickly diverted to the Hooters location where a good Samaritan was aiding the injured woman. The man dispensing aid suddenly jumped on a motorcycle only to have quickly crash following a police chase. It was discovered the motorcycle had been stolen from Chattanooga as per the official police statement.

The initial investigation revealed a tangled web of crime, wherein the woman and her aid-providing accomplice had attempted to steal a motorcycle from the very same inn. Their larcenous adventure was interrupted when an unidentified gunman opened fire, hitting the woman at least once during the fracas and then vanished before law enforcement's arrival.

The victim, now in extremely critical condition, was swiftly transported to the hospital, while her accomplice, suffering from his crash-related injuries, was also hospitalized, though his injuries were deemed non-life-threatening. The Knoxville Police Department continues to sift through the details to strengthen leads and have stressed that the investigation is actively ongoing.