Man Who Was Shot By Relative At Ooltewah Home Dies; Charge Set To Be Upgraded To Murder Against Tyler Reid In Death Of John "Dee" Hayes

  • Thursday, June 27, 2019

Authorities said a man who was shot by a relative at a home in Ooltewah early Tuesday morning has died. John "Dee" Hayes had been in critical condition after being shot in the head.

Police earlier charged 21-year-old Tyler Reid with attempted first-degree murder. That was to be upgraded.

A deputy said when he arrived at the home in the 9000 block of Heatherloch Lane he found Reid sitting on a couch with his hands up. He said Reid told him, "I did it. I did it. I shot him."

The deputy said he found the victim in a back bedroom with a blood-soaked towel over his heads. His said his mother, Sonya Reid, was trying to stop the bleeding from his head.

Ms. Reid said she heard a shot and went to check on her son. She said she found him on the bed unresponsive. She said when she went to call 911 she heard another pow. She then saw her other son, Tyler Reid, with a gun in his hand.

She said Tyler Reid told her, "He's got a demon. Don't tell on me. He was gonna kill me. You know he needs help. He's got a demon in him."

He then began panicking and pacing, holding his hands as if he were praying, she said.

Detectives said they checked out a bag belonging to Tyler Reid and found shell casings, live ammunition and a projectile covered with blood along with a .25 caliber pistol. It was found that Timothy Reid, father of Tyler Reid, owns a .25 caliber pistol. He had not yet been able to check to determine if it was missing. The bag also contained a holster similar to one belonging to the father.

Detectives said they believe Tyler Reid took his father's gun and used it in the shooting.

It was not initially known how many times the victim had been shot in the head.

The victim was transported to a local hospital via Hamilton County EMS.

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