Patel requires surgery, but is out of danger.
AB Wire
WASHINGTON, DC: A Caryville, Tennessee man, Walter John Meachum, 21, suspected of shooting a 10-year-old Indian American girl and robbing a store run by her family, among other criminal complaints, has been arrested, on Wednesday.
Meachum was also suspected of aggravated robbery of a Pilot Travel Center in east Knox County on Tuesday, reported Oak Ridge Today. He was arrested at a motel in Rocky Top in Anderson County on Wednesday, authorities said.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office said the suspect was armed with a black and silver weapon, at the Tuesday robbery, according to the initial investigation. Authorities said the suspect fled west on Raccoon Valley Road in a silver convertible with a black top after receiving an undisclosed amount of money from the business. He was described as wearing a skull mask, black hooded jacket, white shirt, and blue jeans at the time of the robbery, the today reported.
Meachum is also a suspect in a violent robbery last Thursday at Lee’s Food Market on General Carl Stiner Highway north of LaFollette in Campbell County, according to WBIR-TV and the Knoxville News Sentinel. During that robbery, a 10-year-old Indian American girl was allegedly shot in the leg.
The News Sentinel reported that Meachum is also a suspect in several other similar crimes committed within the past two weeks across Campbell County.
WBIR 10News reported that the Indian American family that owns and operates the gas station said Meachum’s capture is fantastic news after a difficult week with the robber still on the loose. The robbery was especially frightening for the employee who had the gun pointed directly in his face.
“I was mopping and he came in and shot bullets in the air. He took me as a hostage, he took me to the cash register, he took money, and he shot again and that bullet hit my cousin,” said Parth Patel. “It hit her in the leg. She is going to be okay, but it was very scary for her and all of us.”
The family said 10-year-old Diti Patel has a wound just above her knee that will require surgery next Friday.
With the robber still at large, the Patel family has been on edge with every unknown customer who enters the store, reported WBIR.
“If any customer comes and it’s their first time, we look at him like he’s a suspect,” said Kajoy Patel, whose car was stolen by the armed robber as he fled the store. “I am so glad that he has been caught.”
“What I was thinking is he might come back. We were all afraid, that’s all,” said Parth Patel. “This is great news [that a suspect is in custody]. One thing I will say is I feel safe today.”
There is also the possibility law enforcement agencies will seek federal prosecution against Meachum because the crimes involve multiple situations where a gun was used to commit a violent felony and the crimes occurred in multiple jurisdictions, the WBIR report said.