TBI has confirmed 18-year-old Johnathon Sellers has been charged with criminal homicide in the Friday morning death of his mother, 52-year-old Kelly M. Brackin of Alcoa. Brackin’s body was found her Cherry Street apartment.

Pigeon Forge police officers had attempted to pull Sellers over for suspicion of DUI just after 4 a.m., but he engaged them in pursuit through Gatlinburg, back into Pigeon Forge and into Sevierville early that morning. When he finally stopped, Sellers emerged from the vehicle brandishing a shotgun and police fired at him.

Just after 4:30, officers in Alcoa went to Brackin’s apartment to conduct a welfare check. Detectives found her dead. She was shot multiple times.

A neighbor said he heard arguing around 2 a.m., followed by a series of bangs; then a man left in a silver car – presumably the same car Sellers was driving.

Sellers is being held in the Blount County jail on $1 million bond and is due in court this afternoon.