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Hollis shot, killed on highway
Sparta Highway shooting red SUV.jpg
Pictured is the red vehicle driven by the alleged shooter in Sunday’s deadly altercation.
Sparta Highway victim's vehicle.jpg
The GMC driven by Christopher Hollis is surrounded by crime tape on Sparta Highway as law enforcement officials had a heavy presence on the scene Sunday.

Charges have yet to be filed in the case of a deadly highway shooting that took place Sunday on Sparta Highway just outside McMinnville city limits.

Christopher Hollis, 36, was shot and killed Sunday around 4 p.m. as he was travelling inbound on Sparta Highway with a female passenger. The female was not physically injured.

The TBI has interviewed the man who killed Hollis, but his name has yet to be released by law enforcement. He reportedly has relatives who work for Warren County Sheriff’s Department and McMinnville Police Department. The victim has a relative who works for the District Attorney’s Office.

Because of this, the TBI is handling the investigation and District Attorney General Lisa Zavogiannis has already recused herself from the case.

“I want there to be a fair and impartial evaluation which is why the TBI was called in,” said Zavogiannis. “I want the community to know this case is being investigated thoroughly and effectively with no appearance of impropriety. I’ve already met with the victim’s family and they understand what’s happening.”

When asked for information on the case, the TBI described the investigation as “active and ongoing at this time” and provided no further details.

According to information the Standard has obtained from sources close to the investigation, the altercation began as the two motorists were traveling inbound on Sparta Highway. The man who shot Hollis reportedly pulled from Wild Bills BBQ, the former VFW, and made a left turn onto Sparta Highway. Hollis was already traveling inbound on Sparta Highway.

The subjects reportedly became engaged in an argument as they were driving on the highway with shots fired while the vehicles were in motion.

The Hollis vehicle rolled to a stop on Sparta Highway at Dinty Moore Drive, which Google Maps shows is .06 of a mile from Wild Bill’s BBQ. The man who did the shooting pulled over in the emergency lane a short distance in front of the Hollis SUV.

A gun was reportedly recovered from the Hollis vehicle. It’s not known if he may have pointed the gun at the other driver. The two men reportedly did not know each other.

Obituary information for Mr. Hollis is available on page 2A.