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In a highly emotional press conference, Knoxville Police Department Chief David Rausch found it difficult to hold his composure as recalled the actions taken by a 15 year old local hero who give his own life to save others during a '
cowardly' and '
senseless' act of gang-violence.
As Chief Rausch stood visibly shaken, he plead with the public to step up and help stop gang-related violence which has robbed yet another family of a child, after the 15 year old used his body as a human shield to protect 3 innocent females that were caught in the crossfire of a
'random shooting.'
The chief recalled the heroic actions of Dobson, a star player of Fulton High School's football team and the moment that he jumped on top of the girls when several men drove to the Lonsdale area and open fired on a crowd that had gathered to celebrate Christmas at a local home.
“This cowardly and senseless acts of violence must stop. We ask for peace and I plea with the faith community, please pray for our community, but this stops now,” Rausch stated.
Via
WATE
“I want to start out by expressing my condolences to the families impacted by the violence last night, especially to the Dobson family for their loss,” [Rausch] said.
At approximately 10:12 p.m., Rausch said the 23-year-old son of of Lisa Perry, Brandon Perry, along with several additional males drove to the Lonsdale area and randomly fired multiple times into a crowd on Badgett Drive. “Zaevion Dobson, a 15-year-old Fulton High School student and football player was struck and killed after he had jumped on top of three girls to shield them from the shooters,” said Rausch choking up. Rausch said no other injuries were reported.
WATE has more on Dobson and how his community remembers him as a '
success' story:
Dobson was killed, but Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero said despite youth violence, Dobson was a success story.
Rogero said Dobson, a football player and sophomore at Fulton High School was not only involved in sports, but was a mentor to others through the 100 Black Men of Greater Knoxville chapter. The organization’s purpose it to serve as a catalyst to empower African American and other minority youth to reach their full potential.
Rob Black, Dobson’s coach, said he was “only a sophomore, but a very contagious young man who was very well liked by his pears and teachers.”
“It’s going to be a tough time here as we leave from here and go meet with our football players,” said Black. “Probably 80 young men who are having to deal with this now.”
“This is a fine, fine young man who is a success story,” he said. “And and I want to try to continue to celebrate the live that he had here and the impact that he made on his pears.”
A candlelight vigil will be held Friday night at Sam E. Hill Family Community Center, 1725 Delaware Avene [sic] beginning at 7 p.m.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Dobson family at the this time.
