Inset, from left: William Charles Thomas Sullivan (McMinn County Sheriff’s Office) and Randy Croft (Double CC/Facebook). Background: The Tennessee bar where Sullivan allegedly killed Croft (Google Maps).
A 24-year-old from Tennessee is accused of shooting a bar owner after being expelled from the bar. He claimed that he “accidentally” discharged several bullets after falling into a “large ditch,” which resulted in the owner’s death when the owner confronted him. Over the weekend, William Charles Thomas Sullivan was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Randy Croft, authorities stated.
As per a press release from the McMinn County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were joined by the Athens Police Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation in responding to a shooting at the Double CC Bar and Grill, located along the 1000 block of Highway 30 West, on Friday night, Sept. 19.
Authorities said the deadly encounter took place after the suspect was kicked out of the bar due to an incident involving a knife.
“Witnesses stated that Mr. Sullivan had been asked by the bar staff to leave after he made threats with a knife, though these threats were not immediately reported to 911,” Sheriff Guy mentioned in a statement. “Later, the suspect allegedly fired at other patrons in the parking lot, and when bar owner Randy Croft confronted him, it appears the suspect fatally shot Croft, then took Croft’s truck and fled the scene.”
Sullivan led authorities on a short pursuit in Croft’s truck before being captured in a nearby county. Authorities noted that beyond the murder charge, Sullivan would likely face additional charges following preliminary investigations.
A probable cause affidavit, accessed by Chattanooga’s ABC and Fox affiliate WTVC, revealed Sullivan informed investigators that the shooting was accidental, though he had just been “banned from the establishment” due to the knife incident.
After being driven home, Sullivan reportedly said his neighbor gave him a ride back to the bar, but only after he had retrieved a 9 mm handgun. Sullivan’s girlfriend had reportedly returned to the bar after dropping him off at home.
Sullivan claimed he was walking back toward the bar “to use the restroom in a wood line near the bar” when he fell.
“Mr. Sullivan states that he fell down into a large ditch line which caused him to accidentally shoot his handgun several times and admits it may have struck cars or the building,” police reportedly wrote. “Mr. Sullivan stated someone threw a beer bottle at him and it caused him to accidentally shoot his gun a few more times.”
Sullivan then appeared to claim that he fired at Croft in self-defense, though authorities did not find a firearm on Croft.
“Mr. Sullivan then stated that Randy displayed a small handgun and in his words ‘his training kicked in and he did what he had to do,'” the affidavit states. “Mr. Sullivan explained that he fired several shots at Randy from inside the white car, until his handgun went empty. Mr. Sullivan stated that he does not know if Randy ever fired a shot back at him. Mr. Sullivan went on to explain that once his handgun went empty, he reloaded from a box of shells in his girlfriend’s car and fired more rounds.”
Sullivan claimed he then “panicked,” grabbing Croft’s gun and keys before fleeing in the bar owner’s vehicle as sirens approached. He added that he was “having a panic attack during the pursuit and might have thrown [Croft’s] gun out the window.”
Sullivan is currently being held in the McMinn County Justice Center without bond, records show. He is scheduled to appear in court for his arraignment on Oct. 2.
