Fatal Encounters

A step toward creating an impartial, comprehensive and searchable national database of people killed during interactions with police

Kevonte Jernigan

Name: Kevonte Jernigan
Age: 19
Gender: Male
Race: African-American/Black
Date: 03/28/2016
Location: 608 Rock Springs Rd
Smyrna, Tennessee, 37167
County: Rutherford
Agency: Smyrna Police Department
Cause of Death: Vehicle
Intended Use of Force: Pursuit
Media summary: Kevonte Jernigan was killed after a crash following a police chase. At around 2 a.m. police said they intervened during an alleged burglary attempt at the Smyrna Pawn and Gun store when the suspects tried to use a Ford pickup truck to crash through the store's front door. They weren't successful, and the Ford fled when an officer tried to stop them. The officer chased the truck up Rock Springs Road for about half a mile before police deployed spike strips. The pickup lost control and crashed into a telephone pole and tree. Jernigan died at a nearby hospital. Two juveniles were injured. Three other people fled the scene and weren't yet found at publication.
Unique ID: 17480

News article: Link






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