Chattanooga homeless encampment homicide suspect arrested

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Chattanooga Police have made an arrest in the homicide that happened Saturday at a homeless encampment.

Officers arrested 29-year-old Craig Lamont Jeffries.

Saturday morning, CPD found 40-year-old Jonathan McClellan dead from a gunshot wound at the camp on Bonny Oaks Drive.

They say a separate incident happened earlier that day on Gunbarrel Road, in which Jeffries was swinging a metal pipe at another victim.

The victim was able to take away the pipe, but Jeffries then began shooting at him.

Later that day, McClellan and his girlfriend were at the homeless camp when the second victim arrived.

They told the second victim that Jeffries was currently at the camp, so the three victims ran away in an attempt to hide.

At that point, Jeffries began shooting at them.

Officers say that is when he shot and killed McClellan.

Jeffries now faces several charges, including first degree murder, two counts of aggravated kidnapping and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.