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Search Continues For Suspect In Reelfoot Lake Shooting Deaths

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Obion County, Tenn.–The search continues for the suspect in the shooting deaths of two young men on Reelfoot Lake on Monday.

Arrest warrants were issued Tuesday for the arrest of David Vowell, age 70, of Martin, on two counts of first-degree murder.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation posted a video on its Twitter account Friday evening showing the murky waters and terrain of Reelfoot Lake that are being searched by the TBI, TWRA and other law enforcement agencies.

Vowell is a long-time Martin businessman.

He is wanted for the shooting deaths of 26-year-old Chance Black and 25-year-old Zack Grooms, both of Greenfield.

Black’s father is Weakley County Chief Deputy Mark Black.

Grooms was a recent graduate of Bethel University in McKenzie and was a member of the Archery team.

The shooting occurred Monday around 11 a.m. near Walnut Log on the north end of Reelfoot Lake.

District Attorney General Tommy Thomas said Vowell approached the men, who were in a duck blind on the lake. A third man was in the blind with Black and Grooms and is a witness to what occurred.

Thomas said Vowell asked if he could hunt with the three young men. According to the witness, he then shot them. The witness then reportedly took the gun away from Vowell, knocked him into the lake and took his two injured buddies by boat for medical help.
Vowell’s truck was found at a boat dock at Reelfoot Monday and a gun was reportedly found in the boat.
Law enforcement, along with bloodhounds, have been searching the area where Vowell was last seen on foot and by boat.
Anyone who has seen Vowell or has information on his whereabouts is asked to call 1-800-TBI-FIND (1-800-824-3463). The TBI said he should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone who was near the north end of Reelfoot Monday or heard or saw anything is asked to call TBI’s toll-free number.
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