Celebration as Riley Pawlick. Polluck has been charged with killing Holden Howse Hudson at Mr Clean Shop

An arrest has been made in the Holden Howse case! Riley Pawlick, 17, is accused with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, and tampering with evidence.

According to a court petition, the incident took place around 4 a.m. outside the Domino's Pizza on North Roane Street. District Attorney Russell Johnson first indicated that the shooting occurred at a neighboring Mr. Clean, but the petition suggests that it took place in a garage behind the Domino's.

Harriman police later stopped a vehicle on Highway 27 and found Riley Pawlick and another individual inside. Investigators said the passenger told them he and Pawlick had attended a party at the garage when he heard a gunshot. He reportedly turned to see Pawlick holding a handgun. The witness said he got into his black 2013 Ford Focus, and Pawlick joined him before throwing the firearm off a bridge during their drive. The discarded gun was described as having an extended magazine, a light, and rubber bands on the handle.

Meanwhile, Holden Howse and Terre Lee, both 18 years old, were admitted to Roane County Medical Center. Lee suffered a facial injury, and Howse later died in the hospital.

Lee told the cops. Pawlick had pointed his weapon at him before firing. He remembered hearing a gunshot and then seeing Howse on the ground.

Other witnesses claimed Pawlick and Lee had been arguing. During the confrontation, Pawlick allegedly brought out the gun, loaded it, and attacked Lee with it before the firearm went off, killing Howse.

BACKSTORY:

A teen was fatally shot in the back of his head last night as he was walking away from a fight! 😢

Here is a transcript from a press conference with the details:

“At approximately 4:30 am [Saturday, August 30, 2025] Harriman Police began working on a scene at the Mr. Clean business location (a vehicle and boat detailing business) in Harriman where approximately twenty-plus teenagers and young adults were engaged in a ‘party’ involving alcohol and where guns were present.  An 18-year-old male, Holden Howse (a/k/a Holden Howse Lavita) from Lenoir City had been shot in the head.  The gunshot victim was transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.

Harriman Police had already pulled over a speeding vehicle with two individuals that they then learned had been at this party.  One of the occupants of the vehicle, (a 17-year-old male from Rockwood) [name withheld for purpose of this release until the juvenile petition is filed in the Clerk’s Office] was ultimately suspected of being the individual who shot Holden Howse.  This juvenile suspect, through further investigation, is also suspected of attacking another victim, Terre Lee (an 18-year-old male from Kingston) by hitting him with the gun from which Howse was allegedly shot.

District Attorney Russell Johnson predicated the investigation to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation because of the number of witnesses, the separate scenes of the party where the beating and shooting evidently took place, as well as the stopped vehicle, and the need for search warrants for the vehicle and its contents.  Additionally, the location of the party is owned by a member of the Harriman City Council, and an adult family member was present as a witness and is considered to be a possible ‘host’ of the party at that location.  TBI sent three agents who were assisted by an investigator from the District Attorney’s Office.

Some aspects of the investigation are still ongoing.  Petitions on the 17-year-old suspect for second degree murder and aggravated assault are being taken out in Roane County Juvenile Court.  Tennessee law makes the names of juveniles over 14 years old are subject to public disclosure if charged with second degree murder.