Man shot in Chattanooga on Citico Avenue

Friday, January 1, 1904

photo Chattanooga police crime scene investigator Grag Mardis places evidence markers at the scene of a Thursday morning shooting in the 1800 block of Citico Avenue. As he walked along the sidewalk, a 21-year-old man was shot multiple times by the passenger in a black sedan. Police believe his injuries to be non-life-threatening.

Shots rang out on Citico Avenue as 21-year-old Jeremiah Hicks left his mother's home.

As many as 20 shots were fired from a black car, hitting him about four times and leaving him critically wounded.

He staggered on the sidewalk before collapsing in front of a house at 1813 Citico Ave., according to nearby residents.

"He hollered my name when he got shot," said Victor Davis, Hicks' stepfather, who answered the door of a small yellow frame house next door to where Hicks went down. "He said, 'I got shot, Red.'"

From inside his home, Davis heard at least eight to nine shots. When he rushed to the door, a round struck the front of the house. Outside, part of a spent round was found lying in the street.

As many as 19 other casings were found in the middle of the street in the 1800 block of Citico Avenue.

Neighbors hung back near their homes and watched as police marked the shell casing sand gathered information.

Hicks is in critical condition -- wounded in the arm, leg and abdomen.

The car was last seen heading east on Citico Avenue.

Davis said he does not know why Hicks was shot.

"It's hard to say. You know how these young kids," Davis said, stopping to pause. "They just -- I don't hang around them. I work and come home."

Hicks has one child and works at KFC, Davis said.

The shooting is the eighth to date this year in the city. This time last year, there had been 13 shootings.

Anyone with information about the shooting can contact Chattanooga police at 423-698-2525.