The Greenville High School junior and stepfather who were wounded during a custody change at the pilot gas station at Exit 4 of Interstate 81 have died.
Teagan Welch, 16, was a junior at Greenville High School where she marched in the band and was on the bowling team, according to school officials.
Welch was shot dead during a confrontation involving her father, Christopher Welch, 48 of Harriman, and her 58-year-old stepfather, Ken Cook, who was pastor of Mosheim Church of God.
Welch’s death was confirmed by high school officials on Friday. Cook’s death was reported by multiple sources on Saturday.
Teagan Welch’s father, Christopher Welch, died on the scene. Cook and Teagan Welch were flown to the University of Tennessee Medical Center.
The exact details of the shooting that took place on Monday afternoon are not known. While initial indications existed that two shooters were involved, the officers did not confirm an exchange of fire.
According to White Pine Police Chief Chad Cotter, there was a domestic problem during a four-person custody swap. Three were shot dead and a fourth unidentified person was not injured.
Cotter said Monday the police had not taken anyone into custody or looked for anyone else.
“We’re just trying to find out what happened,” said Cotter. “We have the feeling that the shooter was there (when the police arrived). We have a feeling that one of them was the deceased.
“When we got to the scene, we had three victims, four people in all. Three people were transported to the hospital. It wasn’t an active shooting situation. It seems like a domestic situation.
Christopher Welch, 48, was a demolition / engineer sergeant in the U.S. Army’s special forces. According to his obituary, he served as the Advanced Urban Combat Instructor of the Special Forces and undertook numerous missions in Bosnia in 1998 and 1999.
Welch also served for Homeland Security as a federal agent and senior training specialist for the Office of Secure Transportation. An inquiry about Welch’s employment status with the National Nuclear Security Agency was not answered.
A post on Greenville High School’s Facebook page indicates that students and faculty are supported in their grief.
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