Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, April 8, 2020:
Three killed in stabbing at Knoxville, Tennessee, truck stop
A 33-year-old truck driver was shot and killed by police after allegedly stabbing four people, three of whom were pronounced dead at the scene, Tuesday morning at a Pilot Travel Center in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says the three deceased victims were all employees at the Pilot along Strawberry Plains Pike. The fourth victim, who TBI says has been released from the hospital, was a customer at the store.
“Today is a difficult day for the Pilot Company family,” the company said in a statement Tuesday. “We are devastated to confirm the loss of three team members and the injury of a guest after an act of violence at our Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, location this morning. It is with heavy hearts that we extend our deepest sympathy to the families and loved ones of the victims. We are providing support and counseling to the families and our team. We are working closely with local authorities. Please keep these families in your thoughts and prayers.”
TBI has identified truck driver Idris Abdus-Salaam, of Durham, North Carolina, as the suspect. Police were alerted of the stabbings at approximately 7 a.m. Tuesday and, upon arrival, they found at least one person with stab wounds outside the store.
They also saw a man, armed with a knife and identified by witnesses as the suspect, in the parking lot. Officers approached the man, later identified as Abdus-Salaam, but he refused to drop his weapon. TBI says that at some point during the encounter, one of the officers shot Abdus-Salaam. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
No information has been released about the motive for the stabbing.
