August 30, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
A fatal shooting Thursday night has resulted in a second-degree murder charge against one man.
66-year-old William Anthony McKenzie of Streamer Drive, Smithville is accused of killing 39-year-old Earl Craig Asbury, Jr. at McKenzie’s residence.
Chief Deputy Brian Williams of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department issued the following prepared statement. “On Thursday, August 29 at 6:54 p.m. Central Dispatch received a call of a possible shooting at 163 Streamer Drive. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department arrived on the scene at 7:05 p.m. and made contact with William McKenzie and then with a deceased male laying in the yard. The deceased male is 39-year-old Earl Craig Asberry Jr. of Smithville”.
“McKenzie, the suspect, has been booked into the DeKalb County Jail and is charged with TCA 39-13-210 Second Degree Murder. McKenzie is under a $500,000 bond and will appear in the General Sessions Court in DeKalb County on Thursday September 12th 2024”.
Upon the request of Sheriff Patrick Ray, the 13th Judicial District Attorney’ Generals Office summoned the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to the scene.
On scene were Sheriff Patrick Ray, Chief Deputy Williams, DeKalb County Sheriff Deputies, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Detectives, the DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office and Assistant District Attorney General Greg Strong.
The investigation is ongoing.
The arrest warrant states that “The investigation revealed that McKenzie, by his own admission, did intentionally and knowingly discharge a firearm striking the victim, Earl Craig Asberry, Jr. multiple times in the Turso area resulting in his death. Prior to the arrival of law enforcement, the investigation revealed that McKenzie made several attempts to conceal the body and made comments of intentions to remove the body from the scene”.