Bartlett, Tennessee

From Memphis’ MyEyewitnessNews.com of October 12, 2007

New Information: Bartlett Man Shot & Killed In Home

Eyewitness News Everywhere uncovers new information about a Bartlett man shot and killed in his home Friday, October 12, 2007. Police say either Allen Lovell’s son or wife pulled the trigger. They also say the family has a history of domestic disturbances at their Scepter Cove house.

Bartlett police say Lovell’s wife, Bobbie called them at 11:57 a.m. Friday to report that she and her son Cody were being held hostage by her husband. Police say dispatchers called back a few minutes later and were told Allen Lovell had been shot in the chest. Lovell was pronounced dead at the scene.

Bobbie and Cody Lovell were taken to the Bartlett Police Department. They were questioned for several hours. As of 8:20 p.m. Friday night, police say they do not know who fired the shot that killed Allen Lovell. They say prosecutors will determine if any charges will be filed on Monday, October 15th.

Eyewitness News Everywhere has learned this incident is far from the first time police have been called to the Lovell home. On April 28th, 2006, police charged Allen Lovell with domestic assault for beating up his son. The police report says Cody Lovell told police he "reached under the bed and pulled a silver colt . . . revolver. Cody then stated he pulled the trigger in self defense.” No was hurt during that incident.

On March 1st of this year, Allen Lovell was charged with aggravated assault. Police say Lovell threatened them with a gun, and then ran off. Police they had gone to Lovell’s home to check up on him after a friend told police Lovell was suicidal.

Lovell’s neighbor Rachel Edwards says he was a good neighbor. She says, “He was great. I liked him. He was just a good ol' boy.” But she also says she saw Lovell arguing with his family in their front yard several times. She says, “I knew they had problems, but not that drastic, not that bad.”

Allen Lovell was a boxing referee. He has been a referee for several fights at the New Daisy Theater for “Boxing on Beale.”

From the Memphis Commercial Appeal of November 5, 2007

Charges against Bartlett wife dropped in shooting of husband

Criminal charges against a Bartlett woman who fatally shot her husband last month were dropped today after a review of the case pointed to self defense.

Dorothy ‘Bobbi’ Lovell, 42, was charged with voluntary manslaughter after shooting her husband, Alan Lovell, 46, with a .357-caliber Magnum on Oct. 12. He was a ticket agent and well-known boxing referee.

She and her 21-year-old son, Kody, told police Lovell had held them hostage for nine hours in their home at 6954 Scepter Cove. They said Lovell had acted irrationally and had pointed a gun at them several times and would not let them leave.

Bartlett police said they had been called to the home several times in the past on complaints of Lovell’s aggressive behavior.

Asst. Dist. Atty. Gen. Thomas Henderson said late today that after reviewing the police investigation of the shooting the evidence did not support a manslaughter charge and appeared to be self defense. The case was dismissed in Bartlett City Court.