Sevierville Releases Investigation Update on Tanger Outlets Shooter

The man who shot two people and then killed himself at Tanger Outlets in Sevierville was a felon prohibited from possessing a handgun and suffered from mental health issues, the investigation by Sevierville Police determined.

According to police, 21-year-old Leon Steven Jones, Jr. went to the Tanger Outlet, 1645 Parkway, with his girlfriend to do some shopping on Tuesday, April 16, 2019. The two had an argument and he became suicidal. That is when Jones, using a Kel-Tec P32 semi-automatic handgun, randomly shot 24-year-old Olivia Katelyn Cunningham and 75-year-old John Marr before shooting himself. Cunningham died at the scene. Marr was treated at University of Tennessee Medical Center and released.

Jones had an arrest record in Sevier and Knox County dating back to 2015 for various theft, burglary and assault charges.

Sevierville Police Department detectives completed their investigation of the Tanger Outlets shooing and released these findings:

• 75-year old John Marr, one of two persons who was shot, survived his injuries and was released from the hospital a few days after the incident.
• Detectives confirmed that the man who shot both victims before shooting himself, 21-year old Leon Steven Jones, Jr. did not know either of the persons that he shot.
• Leon Jones used a Kel-Tec P32 semi-automatic handgun. Detectives have been unable to determine how he came into possession of the handgun.
• Leon Jones was a convicted felon. Therefore, he did not legally possess the handgun. (Convicted of aggravated burglary 2016 and theft over $10,000 in 2015.)
• When the gun was recovered upon arrival of the officers, there were 2 bullets remaining in the magazine. The magazine was capable of holding 10 bullets. No other weapons or ammunition were found on Leon Jones or the vehicle he traveled in to the mall.
• Leon Jones fired three bullets during the incident. One bullet struck 24-year old Olivia Katelyn Cunningham in the head; she was pronounced dead at the scene. One bullet struck John Marr in the right upper chest area; he was treated at a hospital and subsequently released. Leon Jones shot himself in the head; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
• Leon Jones came to the mall in a car driven by his girlfriend, where they planned to go shopping. Detectives have concluded his girlfriend was unaware that he was armed and that she had no prior knowledge that he was going to shoot anyone.
• Detectives believe Leon Jones was suffering from mental health issues and became suicidal after an argument with his girlfriend at the mall. Leon Jones had reportedly expressed suicidal ideations in the past but never acted upon them.
• The car Leon Jones arrived in was parked in the Coach/American Eagle parking area. He exited the car and proceeded directly to the shooting location.
• He shot Olivia Cunningham, turned to his left and walked briskly towards John Marr and shot him, and then shot himself.
• Upon arrival, the first officer observed two persons on the ground in front of the Coach store. These persons were later identified as Olivia Cunningham and Leon Jones.
• The officer determined that both appeared deceased and that one of the deceased persons was the lone shooter.
• A witness told the officer another victim had gone into the American Eagle store. The officer entered the store and began performing first aid on the victim. This person was later identified as John Marr.

“I am very proud of the men and women of the Sevierville Police Department,” said SPD Chief Joseph Manning. “Our dispatchers, patrol officers, and investigators responded to this event in an efficient and professional manner. I want to thank the Pigeon Forge Police Department for their rapid response in assisting us, as well as the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, Sevier County Emergency Management Agency, and the Gatlinburg Police Department for offering assistance. I also want to thank the Tanger management for their quick emergency notification of stores within the mall.”