A devastating incident unfolded on Monday, December 29, 2025, in the quiet residential neighborhood of Greenland Lane in Church Hill, Tennessee, where 69-year-old James L. Stewart and his 20-year-old nephew Levi Sterling Stewart were found deceased inside their shared home at 419 Greenland Lane.
Church Hill Police Department officers responded to a call at approximately 4:39 p.m., discovering both men suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Despite the rapid arrival of first responders, the victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has joined local authorities to assist with the probe, which remains in its early stages. Chief Chad Mosley emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to the public, as preliminary findings point to a murder-suicide scenario involving the two relatives who lived together in the modest home.
The sequence of events began with an emergency call that prompted swift police action in this small Hawkins County town near the Virginia border. Officers entered the residence to find the tragic scene, where evidence of gunfire was immediately apparent. The close proximity of the victims within the household suggests the act occurred in a private, domestic setting during the late afternoon hours when many residents are winding down their day.
No details have been released regarding the specific weapon used, the exact order of events, or any preceding signs of distress. Authorities continue to examine forensic evidence, witness statements if any exist, and the physical layout of the home to reconstruct what led to this irreversible outcome in a place meant for safety and family.
James L. Stewart, at 69, had resided in the Church Hill area for much of his life, sharing the Greenland Lane home with his nephew in a multigenerational arrangement that reflects the strong family-oriented traditions of rural Appalachia. Church Hill’s landscape of rolling hills, historic sites, and neighborly support often fosters deep familial bonds, and James’s role as an elder in the household likely involved providing stability and guidance amid everyday life.
Levi Sterling Stewart, just 20 years old, brought the energy of youth to the shared residence, navigating early adulthood alongside his uncle in a setting that blended companionship with the challenges of modern life. At such a young age, his future held promise in a town where opportunities in nearby Kingsport or local trades could have awaited.
The uncle-nephew dynamic in their home underscored mutual reliance, common in Tennessee families where older relatives often serve as anchors for younger ones. This tragedy has highlighted how personal struggles can remain concealed within even the most familiar walls, turning a place of refuge into a site of irreversible loss.
The apparent murder-suicide nature of the incident has deepened the community’s shock, as such events are rare in Church Hill’s peaceful environment of small-town living, outdoor recreation, and strong interpersonal ties. The rapid determination by investigators that the deaths resulted from this dynamic has focused attention on underlying factors that may have escalated suddenly, though no motive or prior indicators have been publicly disclosed.
In the absence of released details on contributing circumstances, the focus remains on the profound human cost of unresolved tensions within a family unit. This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of recognizing signs of distress and accessing support in tight-knit communities where privacy is valued.