Autopsy shows bullet lodged in victim's head

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

A .38-caliber bullet never exited Ronald Blackmon Jr.'s head after a gunman shot him near the left ear, according to a report.

Blackmon, 25, who died Saturday, was standing near the corner of Sheridan Avenue and Wilson Street when at least one of three men in a car opened fire Friday.

photo Ronald L. Blackmon Jr.

An autopsy by the Hamilton County medical examiner shows the bullet entered from the side of Blackmon's head rather than the back as previously believed by family members and a witness.

Chattanooga police at the crime scene collected one spent bullet, according to the report.

Edward L. Ryals, 18, and Demetrius Bibbs, 18, were arrested in connection with Blackmon's shooting a couple of hours after the incident.

Police said the shooting was gang-related.

Ryals told police he thought Blackmon was a man nicknamed Lil' Rob, who Ryals thought had fired shots at him Thursday night, according to an arrest report.

Both Ryals and Bibbs remain in Hamilton County Jail and are expected to appear in court Thursday.

Blackmon was the fourth homicide victim of the year in Chattanooga.

Since Friday, there have been five people struck in shootings, including Blackmon and a 3-year-old boy.

Investigators have not released any information on whether any of the shootings are connected.