Zachary Leamon, a 22-year old student of University of Tennessee at Chatanooga (UTC), lays in the hospital paralyzed and brain damaged due to a self inflicted gun shot wound. The parents of the victim have hired Georgia PI Jerry Morris to uncover the truth regarding the circumstances leading up to the shooting. They believe that the university officials haven’t been telling the truth.
Mr. Morris has stated that he has documented evidence that proves the shooting was not a suicide attempt and that he has uncovered misconduct by UTC police officers.
On November 6, 2008 Jerry Morris held a press conference and stated that if Leamon was not trying to take his own life and that his medical evaluations also prove that Leamon was not suicidal. Furthermore Morris claims to have evidence indicating that UTC Police Officer, Chase Kilgore, who was off-duty that night, had alcohol inside his campus apartment, which is against university policy. Morris also has statements from at least a dozen students that Kilgore has a history of drinking with UTC students.
Morris made this statement about officer Kilgore at the Thursday evening press conference “Basically he was an enabler. He provided the student dorm room, he provided alcohol and beer and liquor. He gave access to a .357 handgun with ammunition, and whatever happened, this boy was shot at 2:30 in the morning drinking in this police officer’s dorm. What’s wrong with that picture?” says Morris.
During his investigation, Morris also found out that other UTC officers have been known to drink with students. Morris handed over all his findings over to UTC Police. The UTC police Department has now opened their own investigation regarding this matter.
The UTC Chief of Police Bob Ratchford stated, “We want to get to the bottom of this matter. We will not tolerate any wrongdoing of the officers.”
Chief Ratchford would not release to the press how many UTC officers are currently being investigated by Internal Affairs for drinking. Chattanooga Police are still investigating the shooting.