A Sullivan County man who was apprehended following a pursuit and crash in Washington County Thursday was charged with one county of first degree murder and linked to a second murder.
The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office was called to a shooting on Deck Lane in Blountville Wednesday night.
An investigation immediately began and Donald Harry Britt was named as a suspect. The victim was identified as 36-year-old Katie Arnold of Deck Lane.
The SCSO reports that a search for Britt immediately began last Wednesday night for his apprehension. The red Dodge Challenger that Brit was believed to be driving was recovered early Thursday morning.
Sullivan County detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Donald Britt and charged him with First Degree Murder. He also had a warrant for Violation of Probation.
Thursday around 10:30 a.m. the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office received a call to check the welfare of an individual on Stevenson Hill Road in Blountville that did not show up for work.
Deputies responded to the residence and located the resident inside, deceased. The victim in the second homicide was identified as Barry Countiss, age 56, of Blountville.
The vehicle belonging to the deceased individual at the Stevenson Hill address became the next vehicle of interest. The vehicle, a 2007 Nissan Xterra, beige in color, was missing from the residence. Investigators are still processing that scene and gathering evidence.
Later in the morning, the Nissan Xterra was spotted in Jonesborough and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit ended a short time later when Britt crashed. He was taken into custody.
Sheriff Cassidy stated “I would like to thank our detectives for quickly identifying the suspect and for the assistance that the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Jonesborough Police Department, Johnson City Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation provided. These agencies apprehended the suspect after a pursuit.”
The SCSO reported that while many details remain unclear regarding the homicide, investigators continue with their review of evidence from the scene.
The homicide case on Stevenson Hill Road will be presented to the Sullivan County Grand Jury for charges.
Britt was arraigned Friday for First-Degree Murder charge and Unlawful Carrying or Possession of a Weapon.
His bond was set at $250,000 and a court date set for Feb. 1st at 9:30 am.
The Violation of Probation charge that Britt is also being held on currently has no bond amount.
