Truck Stop Slaying: Suspect was a truck driver from North Carolina
Three truck stop workers are dead and one customer is injured after a truck driver from North Carolina attacked the workers early this morning at a Pilot Travel Center in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Officers were called to the scene with reports of a stabbing shortly before 0700 on April 7th, 2020. Upon arriving officers found stabbing victims both inside and outside of the store. Witnesses directed the officers to the parking lot where they found the driver, still holding the knife. According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, after confronting the armed suspect who refused to drop his weapon, “At some point during the encounter, one of the officers fired shots, striking the man. He was pronounced dead at the scene.”
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation identified the victims as Joyce Whaley, Patricia Nibbe and Nettie Spencer, all employees at the Pilot. The fourth victim was hospitalized and was a customer. Officials said all victims were women.
The suspect was killed as a result of the shooting and has been identified as Idris Abdus-Salaam. TBI said he was a truck driver from Durham, North Carolina.
Pilot CEO Jimmy Haslam, who was on the scene this morning, and Pilot released a statement regarding the incident.
“Today is a difficult day for the Pilot Company family. We are devastated to confirm the loss of three team members and the injury of a guest after an act of violence at our Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, location this morning. It is with heavy hearts that we extend our deepest sympathy to the families and loved ones of the victims. We are providing support and counseling to the families and our team. We are working closely with local authorities.
Please keep these families in your thoughts and prayers.”
