Heartfelt Tribute: Cheerleading Coach Remembers Bristol Homicide Victim as a 'Ray of Light

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BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) – Authorities have confirmed the identities of two individuals who lost their lives in a shooting incident that took place just after midnight on Sunday.

The Bristol Tennessee Police Department (BTPD) issued a statement indicating that officers responded to reports of gunfire on the 100 block of Lilly Street.

Upon arrival, officers discovered three individuals suffering from gunshot wounds. Tragically, two of them were declared dead at the scene, while the third victim was rushed to the hospital with injuries deemed “very critical,” as stated by Bristol Tennessee Police Department Chief Matt Austin.

The victims who lost their lives have been identified as Deonte Wright and Lexy Coleman.

In related news, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is currently looking into a fatal officer-involved shooting in Carter County.

Witnesses on the scene identified the suspect as 18-year-old Elijah Campbell, according to Austin. He has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, especially aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence and reckless endangerment into a habitation. According to Austin, he is the sole suspect, and no other suspects are being sought.

Chief Austin stated that Campbell, the witnesses, and the victims were ‘acquaintances.’

Mary Edwards, who was Lexy Coleman’s cheerleading coach at King University, told News Channel 11 that Coleman was a ‘beautiful soul’ who was taken too soon, at the wrong place and at the wrong time.

“What really breaks my heart is a beautiful soul was taken and that’s what needs to be looked at,” Edwards said. “She was honestly one of those people that you can say she came in and was a ‘ray of light’.”

“She spread the light. She had such a deep belief in God and Christianity and all of this, and that’s what it truly was about for her and you saw it through her.”

Campbell is now in Virginia awaiting extradition to Tennessee.

Detective Brooks with the Bristol, Tennessee, Police Department will lead the investigation. Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to contact the BTPD and/or Detective Nicholas Brooks at 423-989-5530 or nbrooks@bristoltn.org.