KPD e-News Release: K.P.D. Detectives Investigating Shooting Incident (Update)

Kingsport Police Department

David Quillin, Chief of Police

200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660

www.KingsportPDBlog.com

NEWS RELEASE
SUBJECT: K.P.D. Detectives Investigating Shooting Incident (Update)
DATE: April 22, 2020
CASE #: 20-008539 (Homicide)

20-008606 (Narcotics)

GENERAL NARRATIVE
On April 20, 2020 at approximately 4:50 AM, Kingsport Police Patrol Officers responded to the Zoomerz gas station and convenience store, located at 1673 Fort Henry Drive in Kingsport, in reference to a shooting incident. Upon arrival, responding officers located an adult male, later identified as Christopher Todd Lane, lying in the parking lot, deceased from what appeared to be gunshot wounds.

Detectives from the K.P.D. Criminal Investigations Division were called to the scene. Brandon J. Castle was developed as a person of interest early in the investigation. Detectives received reliable information to indicate that Mr. Castle would be involved in unlawful drug trafficking in the parking lot of the Rub-A-Dub car wash, located at 904 Bloomingdale Pike in Kingsport.

On April 21, 2020 at approximately 3:30 AM, with invaluable assistance from the K.P.D. Vice and Narcotics Unit, K.P.D. S.W.A.T. Team, and K.P.D. K-9 Unit, Mr. Castle was located and arrested at the aforementioned car wash in the act of attempting to sell illicit drugs, including methamphetamine and Alprazolam, to undercover officers.

He was initially booked into the Kingsport City Jail on the charges of 1) Possession of ½ Gram of a Schedule II Drug (Methamphetamine) for Sale or Delivery, 2) Possession of a Schedule IV Drug (Alprazolam) for Sale or Delivery, 3) Simple Possession/Casual Exchange of a Schedule VI Drug (Marijuana), and 4) Possession of Unlawful Drug Paraphernalia.

Over the course of the investigation, Detectives established sufficient probable cause to determine that Mr. Castle had shot and killed Mr. Lane. On April 22, 2020 the facts of the case were presented to a Sullivan County Grand Jury, which returned a true bill of indictment, charging Mr. Castle with 1) Second Degree Murder, 2) Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony, and 3) Tampering with Evidence.

Mr. Castle was served with the capias on these new charges while already incarcerated on the earlier drug charges. As of the time of issuance of this news release, he remains confined in the Sullivan County Jail in Blountville awaiting arraignment.

The decedent in this case has been sent to the Quillen College of Medicine in Johnson City for autopsy. This remains an active investigation by the K.P.D. Criminal Investigations Division. To protect the integrity of that investigation and not hinder future prosecution, absolutely no further details, to include the motive, will be publicly discussed at this time.

As previously released:

On April 20, 2020 at approximately 4:50 AM, Kingsport Police Patrol Officers responded to the Zoomerz gas station and convenience store, located at 1673 Fort Henry Drive in Kingsport, in reference to a shooting incident. Upon arrival, responding officers located an adult male lying in the parking lot, deceased from what appeared to be gunshot wounds.

Detectives from the K.P.D. Criminal Investigations Division were called to the scene. Their investigation is currently underway; however, no additional details are available for release at this time. More information will be shared as it develops, but only at an appropriate point in the investigation.

SUSPECT INFORMATION
Name Brandon J. Castle
Age Date of Birth 12/17/1993

26 Years of Age

Gender/Race Male/White
Residency 4572 Belwood Trail

Kingsport, TN

Charge(s) 1) Second Degree Murder

2) Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony

3) Tampering with Evidence.

4) Possession of ½ Gram of a Schedule II Drug (Methamphetamine) for Sale or Delivery

5) Possession of a Schedule IV Drug (Alprazolam) for Sale or Delivery

6) Simple Possession/Casual Exchange of a Schedule VI Drug (Marijuana)

7) Possession of Unlawful Drug Paraphernalia

VICTIM INFORMATION
Name Christopher Todd Lane
Age 39 Years of Age
Gender/Race Male/White
Residency Big Stone Gap, Virginia
Injuries Fatal Gunshot Wounds
RELEASING OFFICER
Thomas M. Patton, Public Information Officer

Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit

423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX)

ThomasMPatton

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