09/08/2026
**MY STATEMENT FOLLOWING TODAY’S COURT HEARING**
First, I want to say **THANK YOU** to every single person who showed up at the Loudon County Courthouse this morning.
To the people who took time away from work, got up early, drove to the courthouse, stood beside us, and filled those seats—**you may never truly understand what that meant to me.**
Walking into that courtroom today and having people there supporting us reminded me that we are not alone.
After more than three years of waiting, that matters.
**Your presence gave me strength today.**
Today, I walked back into the Loudon County Courthouse and came face-to-face with the man who shot me in the head on March 30, 2023.
That is something I will never be able to explain to someone who hasn't lived it.
I can still remember that day. I can still remember what happened. And I still live with the consequences of it.
Yet today, more than three years later, we are still waiting for this case to move forward.
I want to make something very clear because I don't want there to be any misunderstanding about what this case is about.
There is no question in my mind about who shot me.
The issue before the court is whether the defendant is mentally competent to stand trial and whether medications may have played a role in what happened.
Today, the defense told the court that they are still waiting on a report from a toxicology expert. We were told that report is expected to be received this Thursday.
So once again, we wait.
The court has now scheduled another hearing for September 22nd to make sure the defense has received the report and that it has been provided to the District Attorney's Office.
I understand that the defense has rights. I understand that the court has a responsibility to make sure the legal process is followed.
But what about the victims?
What about the people who have spent more than three years waiting?
What about the families who have had to relive this over and over again?
What about the person who was shot in the head and has had to carry that experience every single day since March 30, 2023?
Today, I watched the man who shot me being escorted down the hallway.
He was smiling.
I stood there watching him, knowing that this man shot me in the head—and then I watched him walk down that hallway smiling.
I can't pretend that didn't affect me.
Because while we are still dealing with the trauma of that day, while families are still waiting for answers, and while victims are still waiting for justice, it is incredibly difficult to watch the person at the center of this case seemingly go about his day while we continue to live with what happened.
I'm angry.
I'm angry that three years later, we are still waiting on reports.
I'm angry that every delay means another court date, another trip to the courthouse, another reminder of what happened.
And I'm angry that the victims seem to be the ones who are expected to simply keep waiting.
At some point, we have to recognize that justice delayed has a human cost.
These aren't just court dates.
These aren't just reports.
These aren't just legal procedures.
There are human beings behind this case.
I will always respect the judge and the legal process. I will never ask anyone to disrupt a courtroom or disrespect the court.
But I will continue to speak.
I will continue to ask questions.
And I will continue to stand up for victims.
We have waited more than three years.
On September 22nd, we will be back in that courtroom.
And I am asking our community to stand with us again.
Come to the courthouse. Sit quietly. Be respectful. Show your support for the victims and their families.
Let the court see that we haven't forgotten.
Let the victims know that they aren't standing alone.
And let everyone involved know that this community is paying attention.
We are not asking for anyone to decide the case from the courthouse hallway.
We are asking for something much simpler:
We want this case to move forward.
We want the victims to have their day in court.
We want the questions answered.
And after more than three years, we want justice.
To everyone who stood with us today:
**Thank you. From the bottom of my heart.**
When you've been through something like this, it can be easy to feel like you're fighting a battle by yourself.
Today, when I looked around that courtroom and saw all of you, **I knew I wasn't alone.**
Please continue to stand with us.
**September 22nd.**
We will be there.
**And we hope you will be there with us.**
— Rocky King
Owner, Midtown Auto Body
Founder, KTG Foundation
