Inset, left to right: William Charles Thomas Sullivan (McMinn County Sheriff’s Office) and Randy Croft (Double CC/Facebook). Background: The Tennessee bar where Sullivan allegedly killed Croft (Google Maps).
A 24-year-old Tennessee man, accused of killing a bar owner after being kicked out of the establishment, claimed he “accidentally” fired several shots near the establishment after falling into a “large ditch” and killed the owner when he came to confront him. William Charles Thomas Sullivan was taken into custody over the weekend and charged with one count of first-degree murder in the slaying of Randy Croft, authorities announced.
According to a news release from the McMinn County Sheriff’s Office, deputies, as well as personnel with the Athens Police Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, on the night of Friday, Sept. 19, responded to reports of a shooting at the Double CC Bar and Grill in the 1000 block of Highway 30 West.
Authorities said the deadly encounter took place after the suspect was kicked out of the bar due to an incident involving a knife.
“Based on witness statements, Mr Sullivan had been asked to leave the bar by the staff after making some threats with a knife, although the threats were not reported to 911 at the time,” Sheriff Guy said in a statement. “Sometime later, the suspect fired shots at other bar patrons in the parking lot. When he was confronted by the bar owner, Randy Croft, the suspect appears to have fatally shot Mr Croft before taking Mr. Crofts truck and fleeing the scene.”
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Sullivan led authorities on a brief car chase in Croft’s vehicle before he was apprehended in a neighboring county. Authorities emphasized that, in addition to murder, more charges will likely be levied against Sullivan following a preliminary investigation.
A probable cause affidavit obtained by Chattanooga, Tennessee, ABC and Fox affiliate WTVC said Sullivan told investigators that the fatal shooting was unintentional, despite having just been “banned from the establishment” over the incident with the knife.
After being driven home, Sullivan reportedly said his neighbor gave him a ride back to the bar, but only after he had retrieved a 9 mm handgun. Sullivan’s girlfriend had reportedly returned to the bar after dropping him off at home.
Sullivan claimed he was walking back toward the bar “to use the restroom in a wood line near the bar” when he fell.
“Mr. Sullivan states that he fell down into a large ditch line which caused him to accidentally shoot his handgun several times and admits it may have struck cars or the building,” police reportedly wrote. “Mr. Sullivan stated someone threw a beer bottle at him and it caused him to accidentally shoot his gun a few more times.”
Sullivan then appeared to claim that he fired at Croft in self-defense, though authorities did not find a firearm on Croft.
“Mr. Sullivan then stated that Randy displayed a small handgun and in his words ‘his training kicked in and he did what he had to do,'” the affidavit states. “Mr. Sullivan explained that he fired several shots at Randy from inside the white car, until his handgun went empty. Mr. Sullivan stated that he does not know if Randy ever fired a shot back at him. Mr. Sullivan went on to explain that once his handgun went empty, he reloaded from a box of shells in his girlfriend’s car and fired more rounds.”
Sullivan claimed he then “panicked,” grabbing Croft’s gun and keys before fleeing in the bar owner’s vehicle as sirens approached. He added that he was “having a panic attack during the pursuit and might have thrown [Croft’s] gun out the window.”
Sullivan is currently being held in the McMinn County Justice Center without bond, records show. He is scheduled to appear in court for his arraignment on Oct. 2.
