Early AM Argument Preceded Murder/Suicide

"CHURCH HILL, TN - A fight led to deadly gunfire in Church Hill, Tennessee early this morning.

"Church Hill Police said Jessica Marie Davidson, 29, 230 Silver Lake Road, Apt. B-1, Church Hill, was shot to death by Kevin Shane Cassell, 31, 533 Pembroke Street, Kingsport. Cassell then turned the gun on himself, police said. Davidson was dead when E.M.S. crews arrived. Cassell died on the way to the hospital.

"The shooting happened inside Davidson’s apartment around 3:35 a.m. Tuesday after an argument overheard by neighbors. `The neighbor then heard the woman screaming followed by a gunshot,` a police news release said. `Approximately 30 seconds later, the neighbor heard a second gunshot.`

"From the Church Hill Police news release:

"`Davidson and Cassell have had an ongoing on-again, off-again romantic relationship for the last several years. Our initial investigation has revealed that Cassell was previously arrested due to a domestic disturbance between the pair on 9-6-2007. At that time, Davidson and Cassell were living together at 6733 Carters Valley Road, Apt. 3, Church Hill, TN. A Hawkins County Sheriff’s Deputy arrested Cassell after Davidson called in a complaint of assault against him. The case was subsequently 'nolled' (nolle prosequi, meaning 'will not prosecute').`

"Police are investigating the deaths as a murder-suicide case pending the results of autopsies and TBI forensic lab reports."

From TriCities.com...