Newport Man Charged With Murder

A Newport man has been charged with murder after what was described by Cocke County Sheriff CJ Ball as a tragic incident. According to the sheriff’s office, at 1:47am Sunday morning, deputies were called to a home on Edgefield Way in Newport. 40 year old Eric Banks told sheriff’s office investigators that he and 35 year old Daniel Messer had been talking about guns and Banks retrieved a .44 magnum Ruger and went to Messer’s bedroom with the firearm. Banks claims that he stood in the bedroom and pulled the hammer back, but as he was trying to release the hammer slowly, the gun was aimed at Messer. Banks says that’s when the firearm discharged shooting the Messer in the face, killing him. Banks admitted to investigators that he had been drinking prior to the incident.

Messer’s body has been transported to the Knoxville Forensics Center for an autopsy to be performed. Banks is being charged with second degree murder. He is currently in the custody of the Cocke County Sheriff’s office. No bond has been set yet.