A Tennessee Man Was Arguing with His Ex-Girlfriend Over Tax Return Money. So, He Bought a Gun and Used It Hours Later to Shoot Her in the Head.

A man in Tennessee bought a gun hours earlier. He then used that same gun to fatally shoot his ex-girlfriend in the back of the head, according to authorities.

In May 2021, officers were dispatched to East Lake Courts in Chattanooga and found the injured woman, 20-year-old Kielonnie Stocks, the Chattanoogan reported.

Officers were initially told that Stocks had suffered an injury after she fell and struck her head, causing the head trauma, facial swelling and bleeding from the nose she was suffering, authorities said.

Stocks was rushed to an area hospital, where medical staff discovered she had actually been shot in the back of the head. She died from her injuries later that afternoon.

Police determined during questioning that Terrick Thorne had been arguing with the victim about tax return money. Thorne was Stocks' ex-boyfriend and the father of her child.

Thorne admitted to shooting Stocks, but told police it was accidental, the Chattanoogan reported.

Detectives determined Thorne had purchased a .380 caliber firearm hours before the shooting, and a .380 caliber shell casing was found at the scene, according to the publication.

Investigators searched Thorne’s residence and found the victim’s cell phone, debit cards, iPad and Apple watch in the garage as well as a Glock .380 pistol at the residence.

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Thorne was prohibited from possessing a gun due to a prior domestic assault conviction involving Stocks.

Thorne was arrested and charged with criminal homicide and unlawful possession of a firearm, authorities said.

On Oct. 2, Thorne pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree murder and the unlawful possession of a firearm charge was dismissed, officials said.

Criminal County Judge Amanda Dunn sentenced Thorne to 35 years in state prison.