Bristol, Tennessee shooting

On July 7, 2016, a mass shooting occurred in Bristol, Tennessee, U.S. 37-year-old Lakeem Scott opened fire at random near a highway, killing one person and wounding three. Scott was shot in an exchange of gunfire with police and arrested. He told police he was disgruntled with law enforcement after the officer-involved killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. In December 2016, Scott pleaded guilty to one count of murder and was sentenced to life in prison.

At approximately 2 a.m. EDT on July 7, 2016, the gunman left his apartment and walked a short distance to the Volunteer Parkway, a major road in Bristol. The gunman was armed with an AR-15 style rifle and a .45 caliber pistol. He was wearing a tactical vest and possessed a bayonet, two pairs of handcuffs, and more than 400 rounds of ammunition, including two gun clips in his clothing. Some of his magazines were taped together.

Scott grew up in Brooklyn, New York City. He served in the United States Army from January 1998 to June 1999; he was stationed in South Korea as a private first class in the 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment. During deployment, he received the Army Service Ribbon and Overseas Service Ribbon and worked as an "air and missile defense crew member and a unit supply specialist". Scott also served in the New York Army National Guard and Army Reserve between 1996 and 2004. After being discharged, Scott was a "little angry" and "frustrated with the condition of black people in America". However, a white neighbor of his said that he was a "nice all-around person". Scott had moved to Tennessee "fairly recently", likely to cheap housing prices. His cousin said that he was unemployed and collected disability benefits due to an injury he had sustained during his military service.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation identified the shooter as Lakeem Keon Scott (born December 15, 1978), a 37-year-old black male. A resident of Bristol, he had no criminal history prior to the attack.