CHURCH HILL, Tenn. — A quiet neighborhood on Greenland Lane turned into a scene of heartbreak Monday afternoon when police discovered two family members dead inside a home in what investigators now describe as an apparent murder-suicide.
Officers with the Church Hill Police Department were called to the 400 block of Greenland Lane just after 4:30 p.m. on December 29, 2025. When they arrived, they found 69-year-old James L. Stewart and his 20-year-old nephew, Levi Sterling Stewart, both suffering from what appeared to be fatal gunshot wounds inside the residence they shared.
Church Hill Police Chief Chad Mosley told reporters that though the investigation is in its early stages, all evidence suggests the deaths resulted from a murder-suicide. Law enforcement has not released details about the exact sequence of events, but authorities stressed that there is no ongoing danger to local residents.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has joined the Church Hill Police Department to assist in piecing together what led up to the tragedy. Officials are working to confirm the motive and the order in which the shootings occurred, but those findings remain pending as detectives continue interviews and forensics work.
Neighbors described the Stewarts as friendly and quiet, making the shocking news even harder to absorb for a community that, until recently, knew little about trouble inside the home at 419 Greenland Lane. People living nearby spoke of disbelief and sorrow, saying they never expected such violence in a place where children played and neighbors waved hello.
Family members have not yet released a public statement, but community leaders and friends have begun sharing condolences on social media and in person, offering support to relatives as they grapple with the sudden, tragic loss of two loved ones.
As the investigation unfolds, police say they will release more information when appropriate. For now, the focus remains on understanding how and why this quiet Tennessee street became the scene of a devastating family tragedy.
