Dyersburg police seek attempted murder suspect

DYERSBURG, Tenn. — One is arrested and another is wanted for attempted murder following a shooting Sunday in Dyersburg.

Damaris Neal / Courtesy: Dyersburg Police Department

According to the Dyersburg Police Department, authorities are searching for 23-year-old Damaris Neal in connection to a shooting that occurred Sunday afternoon on Upper Finley Road and Alvinwood Circle.

Police say that officers responded to Alvinwood Circle in reference to multiple gunshots being heard around 2:30 p.m., and officers arrived to find multiple shell casings in the roadway.

According to police, the victim in the incident drove to the parking lot of the police department seeking help, and officers found that the victim and his car had been struck by gunfire as he traveled on Upper Finley Road. The victim was transported to a hospital in Memphis for treatment.

Police say an investigation determined that Neal and Jeremy Avery (30, Dyersburg) were suspects in the shooting.

According to Dyersburg Police, officers later located a rental vehicle that was being driven by Avery unoccupied at St. John Apartments. Police say that the apartment was surrounded by DPD, and Avery was later taken into custody without further incident. According to DPD, Avery is charged with attempted first-degree murder. Police also say that officers seized 82 suspected Oxycodone pills and marijuana from Avery’s apartment, resulting in additional charges of possessing schedule II with intent to sell or deliver, and simple possession of marijuana.

Neal, who remains at large, is charged with attempted first-degree murder and is also wanted by the DPD. Police say Neal should be considered armed and dangerous.

Additionally, DPD responded to Keats Street around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday in reference to a shooting victim, where officers arrived to find a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound. Police say the victim was transported by ambulance to Dyersburg Regional Hospital before later being transferred to a Memphis hospital. According to police, the victim was outside when he was struck by gunfire and described seeing a black SUV leaving the area after being shot. This case remains under investigation, and police did not confirm whether or not it was connected to the earlier shooting.

Detectives are asking anyone with information about the shootings to call Crime Stoppers at (731) 285-TIPS, or Criminal Investigations at (731) 288-7679.

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