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Police say gunman killed two, comitted suicide in Hawkins County standoff 
MOORESBURG — A series of theft complaints and rising tension between a stepson and stepfather may have led to a double murder/suicide Monday night in the Mooresburg community of Hawkins County.
Hawkins County Sheriff Roger Christian identified the alleged shooter as Darran Blevins, 27.
His two victims were identified as Blevins’ stepfather, Dennis Christian, 65, and a family friend, Brandy Seal, no age given.
Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the residence at 443 Mooresburg Springs Road shortly before 8 p.m. Monday on a 911 domestic disturbance complaint made by Seal. Shortly after deputies arrived and identified themselves outside the residence, they heard four to five gunshots from within the residence, Sheriff Christian told the Times-News.
The building was originally described as a barn, but deputies later found out it was a residence with an upstairs loft, although the ground floor was either unfinished or being utilized for storage.
“Upon their arrival deputies heard voices inside, announced their arrival, and at that point heard several gunshots from inside the residence,” HCSO Lt. Detective Randy Collier told the Times-News. “Deputies then backed off and took up position. At that time (Blevins) came to the upstairs window displaying a gun and discharged the firearm.”
Sheriff Christian said he believes Dennis Christian (no relation) and Seal were shot during the initial volley of shots heard by deputies.
That shot fired by Blevins moments later when deputies observed him at the upstairs window could possibly have been his fatal self-inflicted wound, the sheriff added.
Although footsteps were heard upstairs when the HCSO Tactical Unit entered the ground floor of the residence around 11:30 p.m., there was a dog in the residence at the time.
It was during that 11:30 p.m. entry by the Tactical Unit that the bodies of Dennis Christian and Seals were discovered on the ground floor.
Sheriff Christian said that at that point his department took precautions as if the suspect was still alive, armed and on the second floor of the building.
“We tried and tried and tried to re-establish communications, but I really think this was all over by 8:30 p.m.,” Christian said.
Early Tuesday morning, the HCSO’s armored personnel carrier (APC) was deployed at the scene. Later, Morristown police arrived with their robotic surveillance unit, although the layout of the building prevented the robot from reaching areas where the suspect might have been.
The HCSO Tactical Unit fired tear gas into the second floor of the building then later utilized the APC to enter the residence. The call came over the police radio at 4:35 a.m. that the residence had been secured. That’s when Blevins was discovered deceased on the second floor, the sheriff said.
All three deceased have been taken for an autopsy to determine the cause of death, although Sheriff Christian confirmed that all three had suffered gunshot wounds.
Sheriff Christian told the Times-News Tuesday that his department had been called to that residence on three occasions between July 1 and Aug. 16 on theft complaints. There were unconfirmed reports that Dennis Christian had either divorced, or was in the process of divorcing, Blevins’ mother and that the two still jointly owned the property where Dennis Christian and Blevins resided in separate homes.
On July 1, Blevins reported to the HCSO that Dennis Christian had left a note on his door demanding stolen property back and threatening to continue to vandalize Blevins’ residence until the property was returned.
On July 14, Blevins filed a theft complaint of tools and other items being stolen from a barn on the property, although no suspect was named on the HCSO report of the theft.
And then on Aug. 16, Dennis Christian reported the theft of a motorcycle, two TVs and a chain saw with a total value of approximately $4,000 and implicated Blevins in the thefts. Sheriff Christian said none of that property has been recovered, and the theft was still under investigation.
“These reports would indicate a pattern of escalation of tension between Mr. Christian and Mr. Blevins,” Sheriff Christian said. “It seems inconceivable that someone would take such drastic measures to resolve a dispute of this nature. We’re going to be investigating this more in-depth in the coming days and talking to family members, and hopefully we’ll come up with a better picture of why this happened.”
In the hours between the arrival of deputies and the discovery of the third body, authorities had described the incident as a standoff and a possible hostage situation. Dozens of police officers responded to the scene from Hawkins, Hamblen, Grainger and Hancock counties, as well as the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and attorney general investigators.
As many as eight ambulances at one time and multiple rescue helicopters also responded to the scene and were on standby throughout the ordeal. Local volunteer firefighters directed traffic throughout the night, where Route 31 was reduced to one lane due to being blocked by the tractor-trailer that hauled in the APC.
At least three nearby residences on Mooresburg Springs Road were evacuated until the scene was secured.
The Mooresburg community is located on the far western edge of Hawkins County, almost to the Grainger County line. The residence where the incident took place was on Mooresburg Springs Road about a mile west of the Route 31 intersection.
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Being a distant friend of the family... my heart truly breaks for all of those involved. For those people who like to point the finger at a certain person... I feel bad for you... because you obviously don't know the depth of the story. It is so traumatic on so many levels. To make awful comments about wanting to "P*** " on someones grave is sickening... and I am sure you would not have to wait in line.. you'd be the only one there. It would show your true colors. Also I am sure that is why you're comment was deleted! This is a FAMILY... situation... meaning when you knock one... you're really knocking them all. .....again my heart breaks for the family... though I know this is a STRONG family and will conquer through this tragedy... and will always cherish the times they spent with Dennis and Darian. rip.
What homeschooling has to do with this escapes me. However, I homeschooled all three of my children. They are well rounded young men. They all work, pay their own bills, etc. I am definitely not a religious zealot. I chose to keep my children at home after hearing several teachers, school counselors, etc. that I know personally state that they only chose that field so that they could have summers off. I even had two different ladies tell me that they don't like children and will NEVER have any of their own. It's just a way to work and be off to enjoy the summer.
I realize that most teachers do what they do because they love learning and working with children but not all. Just like there may be some who homeschool because they are religious zealots (could be called a lot worse things) but not all.
Though, again, I wonder what this has to do with the TRAGIC MURDER of this couple????
This was a little too close to home. My heart, thoughts, and prayers go out to the families and friends. What a tragedy!
yayyyyyyyyyyyyy Jeremiah Jones...yay for you! Yes he does regardless of topic and promotes his agenda! I, like you, have started ignoring his posts because he's a waste of air. It's awful to have someone like Mr. Field pouring his heart out about the loss of his friends and have someone like PETER on here spouting his rhetoric.
what does home school have to do with this story?
Mr. Jones has caused everyone to get completely off topic. A tragic murder occurred that probably could have been prevented if the police nd da's office had been doing their job insteading of trying to get to their feeding trough faster by pushing him on out the door. My hearts and prayers go out to all families involved in tragedies such as this. Focus on the victims!!
Mr Jones, you show up in nearly every discussion on this board to promote your conservative right-wing position and attack anyone who disagrees. You are obviously an internet troll.
Hoome skooled
Thank you, Mr. Jones, for your information. I will put it to use.
Ms. Morris, Brother Early, Peter Stevenson, and his various other aliases is an internet troll. He shows up in nearly every discussion on these boards, attacks people of faith, insults people from appalachia, promotes his homosexuality, and in other ways tries to start problems here. I recommend for the most part ignoring his posts under all of his names.
I'm sorry, I must have missed a comment about homeschooling being in this situation. Was it deleted, and does it pertain to this story?
I am a homeschooling mother and I am not a religious zealot, nor is my child.
We homeschool our child because we feel that he will receive a better rounded education at home.
He did attend public school during 3rd and 4th grade.
He was very bored because he was two grades ahead as evidenced by his tcap scores and his entrance exam that he had to take to be put back into public school.
He also is happier schooling at home because he is able to learn two languages while studying 5th grade.
I think before anyone says anything about homeschoolers, it should be researched beforehand. A lot of homeschooling is done because of religious reasons, but there are a lot of parents that homeschool because of educational freedoms and other various reasons.
A lot of people think that homeschoolers are shut in children that are not allowed to be in contact with the rest of the world and this simply is not true. Our son participates in a community football program, also takes Tae kwon do, and has many, many friends that attend public schools.
No, their parents are.
"All homeschoolers are religious zealots"
Nobody said all homeschoolers are religious zealots.
What IS proven is that homeschooling is an active mechanism for those parents who militantly believe god belongs in the classroom and public school does not allow it.
It appears my earlier post was deleted.
I knew the people that lived in that home. Denny owned the home and surrounding property and Brandy was living at his place. She provided convalence care for him due to some medical problems he had. Denny had a stepson by a previous marriage. The stepson was on drugs and mentally challenged. A few days ago, the stepson robbed their place. Denny reported him to the police and changed the locks. Last night, Denny and Brandy went to the store and after they came back, apparently, the stepson was laying in wait. Brandy called 911 and called one of Denny's daughters. As Brandy was on the phone with the daughter, we think was the same time she was shot.
This stepson should have been in jail from the previous robbery but we think he was let off with a warning to stay some distance away from the residence. This was a barn that Denny was converting to a residence. The upstairs was living space and the downstairs was basically a garage.
Brandy and Denny were very good friends of ours. We loved them very much and miss them already. Their murders were totally unwarranted
I was at this place not long ago, I mapped it for the census. If they checked government information, they would know that it is a residence and not a barn, and there are more residences just like it in the same driveway. :P
My Dad lives in Mooresburg.
A scary tragedy when you read about things like this.
lol Penny!
JJ's awesome...although we disagree on some things we're pretty much right on target. Maybe if you would lay off the weed you wouldn't be a druggie...Just sayin'.
Mr Jones. You should try a little weed some day. You just might become a little less uptight.
there must have been some deleted posts because I am definitely missing something here. I believe in arming America and I believe in alarm systems and tonight I'm setting mine from here on out. It's getting worse and worse in this area. Prayers to the families of all involved!
Mr. Field, my deepest condolences on the loss of your friends.
It is not surprising that the suspect was a drug addict robbing homes to finance his habit.
It is amazing that people want to legalize these drugs.
joe are you the judge souls????
looks like a domestic disturbance turns bad awful tragedy thoughts and prayers to each family
looks like a domestic disturbance turns bad awful tragedy thoughts and prayers to each family
It is getting so bad out there, I really don't believe in arming America,, but the more stories i read like this, i'm becoming a believer.