Five Arrests Made in Connection with Attempted Murder in Elizabethton

Five Arrests Made in Connection with Attempted Murder in Elizabethton

In a major breakthrough, deputies of the Carter County Sheriff’s Office have made five arrests over the weekend in connection with an attempted murder that transpired in August 2023. The warrants for arrests were instigated following indictments returned by the Carter County Grand Jury earlier in May 2024. The suspects were charged on numerous accounts stemming from the brutal assault incident.

The Accused and Their Charges

The five individuals facing charges in relation to the case include:

• Jerry A. Carden Jr., 33, of Elizabethton: charged with conspiracy to commit second-degree murder; attempted second-degree murder; aggravated assault (weapon); tampering with evidence; and filing a false report.
• Meesha Brieanne Williams, 32, of Elizabethton: charged with conspiracy to commit second-degree murder; attempted second-degree murder; aggravated assault (weapon); tampering with evidence; and filing a false report.
• Kelvin Lynn Bradley Jr., 24, of Elizabethton: charged with conspiracy to commit second-degree murder; attempted second-degree murder; and aggravated assault (weapon).
• Daniel A. Shearl, 19, of Elizabethton: charged with conspiracy to commit second-degree murder; attempted second-degree murder; and aggravated assault (weapon).
• Jeffery Scott Brooks Jr., 21, of Johnson City: charged with conspiracy to commit second-degree murder; attempted second-degree murder; and aggravated assault (weapon).

The Assault Incident

The case stems from an incident on August 19, 2023, when the Carter County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a distress call from the Stoney Creek community. Upon their arrival, they discovered a 29-year-old male victim with a severe head injury caused by, what they believe to be, an array of weapons wielded by several individuals.

Family members of the victim, who had received a distressed call from him, found him gravely injured at the boat ramp on Wilbur Dam Road. Emergency medical personnel were present treating his injury initially; however, the severity necessitated his immediate transportation to a hospital. Medical practitioners at the hospital later confirmed a skull fracture.

Notably, a broken cast iron skillet smeared with blood was found near the victim’s vehicle, heightening the speculation that it was part of the choice of assault weapons.

Detainment and Bail

Carden and Williams were arrested on May 11, while Bradley, Shearl, and Brooks were apprehended a day later, on May 12. Post arrests, all five were indicted by the Carter County Criminal Court on May 8.

Four out of the five suspects – Carden, Williams, Bradley, and Brooks- were released after each posted a $25,000 bond. Daniel A. Shearl, however, still remains in custody at the Carter County Detention Center under a $25,000 bond.

The investigation is ongoing, and this account will be updated with further details as they become available.