Law enforcement officials in Tennessee are actively searching for a suspect following a fatal shooting that occurred in Grainger County. The incident took place on Friday evening, June 19, 2026, at approximately 8:50 p.m. at the Williams Creek TWRA Access near Lays Bridge in the Washburn area. Grainger County Sheriff James Harville confirmed that deputies responded to the scene and discovered the body of 60-year-old Billy Nicely, who had died from gunshot wounds. Nicely was identified as a resident of Washburn.

According to Sheriff Harville, investigators determined that a large group of people was gathered in the parking area and roadway when Nicely approached them. Witnesses reported that Nicely engaged in a verbal altercation with a suspect before being shot. Following the shooting, the suspect and another individual fled the scene in a Honda Civic. The vehicle has since been recovered and secured for evidentiary purposes.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is assisting the Grainger County Sheriff’s Department with the ongoing investigation. Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding the suspect or the events of that evening to come forward. Specifically, investigators are looking for information about individuals in the area of Black Fox Bridge on June 19 between 7:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Tips can be directed to Grainger County Sheriff’s Department Detective Leon Spoone at 865-828-3613, or to the TBI at 865-828-4636 or 1-800-TBI-FIND. The search for the suspect remains active as authorities work to identify and apprehend the individual responsible for the deadly shooting.