By the time police arrived on Sky South Road early Monday morning, 37-year-old Johnathon Reed had already been lying dead on the pavement for what authorities believe could have been hours—shot sometime after midnight in a quiet Kingsport neighborhood where violence of this kind was almost unheard of.
The first call to 911 came from a nearby resident who, after hearing the sharp crack of gunfire, stepped outside to find Reed motionless in the street. What had started as an ordinary night had turned into the scene of a murder that left the community reeling.Detectives quickly began processing the area, collecting shell casings, canvassing homes for witnesses, and reviewing surveillance footage from nearby intersections.
Their efforts paid off faster than anyone expected. Within just 17 hours of discovering Reed’s body, investigators announced they had two suspects in custody—identified as Krysten Atkins and Tyler Holly. Both were known to frequent areas around Lynn Garden Drive and, according to early reports, may have had prior contact with the victim.
As word of Reed’s death spread, shock turned to sorrow across Kingsport. Friends and family described him as a hardworking man with a good heart, someone who loved his family deeply and never hesitated to lend a hand to those in need. His sudden death, senseless and brutal, has left loved ones searching for answers and closure.
Police have not yet released a motive, but they continue to urge anyone with information to come forward. Meanwhile, a growing memorial of candles and flowers marks the place where Reed took his final breaths—a stark reminder that even in neighborhoods that feel safe, tragedy can strike without warning, forever altering the lives of those left behind.
