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Police Charge Local Man with Second Degree Murder

Sevierville Police Department (SPD) officers arrested a local man early yesterday morning, Sunday, May 15, 2016 on a second degree murder charge. Elisha D. McDowell (booking photo attached), 22-years old of Sevierville was arrested after a traffic stop at approximately 4:23AM near 111 East Main Street.

According to SPD Detective Ray Brown, the charge stems from an incident that occurred on February 12, 2016 when police responded to a call of an unconscious male at 421 Club Drive. The unconscious male, later identified as 22-year old Mohammed Hafeez, was transported to LeConte Medical Center by the Sevier County Ambulance Service where he was pronounced dead.

A subsequent autopsy determined that Hafeez had died due to a toxic level of Fentanyl, a schedule II painkiller. After investigating, police allege that McDowell supplied the Fentanyl to Hafeez. An indictment was recently obtained leading to McDowell's arrest yesterday.

McDowell was transported to the Sevier County Jail and is being held on a $100,000.00 (one-hundred thousand) bond. The investigation is ongoing.

All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Bob Stahlke, Public Information Officer

300 Gary Wade Blvd.
Sevierville, TN 37864-5500
Phone: 865.453.5506