Bradley County: Suspect in Charleston slayings arrested

photo Seen Wednesday morning, this house at 184 Leatha Lane in northern Bradley County was the scene of a double homicide Tuesday at shortly before 9 p. m. Staff Photo by John Rawlston/Chattanooga Times Free Press

The Bradley County man suspected in the shooting death of a couple Tuesday night has been arrested.

Aaron Dean Lawson, 32, was captured off Highway 58 in Hamilton County and is in custody, authorities said.

Lawson was being sought in the deaths of Charles and Deborah Phillips, who were killed Tuesday night.

Phillips, 58, owned an auto shop in Polk County, Sheriff Jim Ruth said at a news conference today at his office.

Map

184 Leatha Ln

184 Leatha Ln

"The Phillipses are well known in this community, and it's a very sad day," Ruth said.

Authorities believe Lawson was waiting for the couple at their 184 Leatha Lane home and shot them both dead when they walked outside Tuesday night, the sheriff said.

Sheriff's deputies and Bradley County EMS workers were sent to the scene about 8:45 p.m. Inside the home, they found the bodies of two adults, according to sheriff's spokesman Stan Clark.

Lawson was arrested on warrants charging two counts of first-degree murder, officials said.

Charleston is located in the northern part of Bradley County, near McMinn County.

For complete details, see tomorrow's Chattanooga Times Free Press.

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