Tennessee Most Wanted Alert Issued for Knoxville Murder Suspect Corey Joseph Huff After Fatal Convenience Store Stabbing and Anderson County Pursuit
KNOXVILLE, TN — The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has issued a Tennessee Most Wanted Alert for a Knoxville man wanted on a first-degree murder charge in connection with a fatal stabbing at a convenience store.
Investigators identified the suspect as 41-year-old Corey Joseph Huff and said he should be considered armed and dangerous. A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered for information that leads to his arrest.
The alert came after police said Huff fled from officers in Anderson County on Sunday night. Knoxville police have linked him to the death that prompted the homicide investigation.
Police responded to a stabbing at the Kenjo on North Broadway
Knoxville police said officers were sent around 6 a.m. Sunday to the Kenjo convenience store on North Broadway after a report of a stabbing. When they arrived, they found a man who had been stabbed.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. KPD said detectives later identified Huff as a suspect in the case.
Police have not said in the alert or the homicide update what led to the stabbing. They also have not released the victim’s name.
Authorities say Huff was seen hours later on Norris Freeway
Investigators said Huff was spotted at a gas station on Norris Freeway shortly before 8 p.m. Sunday, several hours after the fatal stabbing was reported. That sighting helped set off the next phase of the search.
An Anderson County Sheriff’s Office deputy then tried to stop him, according to police. Huff allegedly drove away, leading deputies on a pursuit.
The chain of events linked the Knoxville investigation to law enforcement in Anderson County, expanding the search for the suspect beyond the city where the stabbing occurred.
Pursuit ended on Carden Gap Road with a search of nearby woods
Police said the pursuit ended on Carden Gap Road, where Huff abandoned his truck and ran into a wooded area. After that, law enforcement agencies searched the area for hours.
Despite the extended search, Huff was not found. Officials have not said whether any evidence was recovered from the truck or the wooded area.
The decision to issue a Most Wanted Alert reflects the continuing effort to locate him. The TBI said he is wanted in connection with a first-degree murder charge.
KPD says there was no known prior connection between suspect and victim
Knoxville police said investigators had not identified a previous connection between Huff and the victim. That detail suggests detectives were still working to determine why the two men crossed paths before the killing.
The absence of a known link leaves key questions unanswered, including whether the encounter at the Kenjo was random or connected to something else. Police have not released additional information about a motive.
For now, investigators are focusing on finding Huff and building the homicide case tied to the stabbing at the North Broadway store.
TBI urges the public to call 911 instead of approaching him
Officials are warning the public not to approach Huff if he is seen. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said he should be considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts can call the Knoxville Police Department at 865-215-7315 or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND. People who spot him are told to call 911 immediately.
The alert keeps the focus on both public safety and the search effort as investigators continue trying to take him into custody.
