A 27-year-old woman in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is facing charges of first-degree murder after allegedly shooting her younger sister in the back of the head and leaving her lifeless body on a couch at their home. The suspect, identified as Brittni Moore, also known as Brittani Nicole Harmon, reportedly took a Lyft to a local Publix supermarket after the incident, where she called 911 and attempted to blame another woman for the crime.
The investigation by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office began on Thursday afternoon when a woman called 911 from the supermarket, claiming to have committed a murder at a residence located at the end of Thrush Hollow Lane. The caller reportedly tried to impersonate the pregnant girlfriend of Moore’s husband, according to local NBC affiliate WRCB.
However, the ruse was unsuccessful, and Moore was subsequently charged with murder. Following the 911 call, the victim, identified as 25-year-old Brianna Harmon, was discovered dead on a couch at the residence. Moore allegedly claimed that she had been asleep on the same couch with her sister that morning and that her sister was alive when she left for the supermarket.
Initially, the sheriff’s office only stated that it was conducting a death investigation and assured the public that there was no broader threat to the community as a suspect was already in custody. Later, deputies identified Moore as the suspect and described the shooting as an isolated incident.
Further investigation revealed that Moore was captured on a neighbor’s Ring camera at the crime scene during the time of the shooting and was also seen on surveillance video at the Publix supermarket. Despite Moore’s claims of being at a Fast Access Healthcare clinic, the combination of the supermarket video and GPS evidence tracing the call to the store contradicted her story.
Court records from the Hamilton County General Sessions Court indicate that Moore is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 21. The records also reveal that Moore has faced several other charges in the past, including theft, aggravated arson, improper use of 911, and making false reports. If convicted of first-degree murder, Moore could face the death penalty or life in prison with or without parole in Tennessee. It is currently unclear whether Moore has legal representation.