SMYRNA, Tenn. (WGNS) — On Tuesday, the Tennessee appeals court has dismissed the appeal of a Rutherford County man convicted on weapons and evidence tampering charges stemming from a 2018 fatal shooting at a Smyrna hotel, ruling that his filing came far too late and did not meet the standard for review.

The case centers on Donavous Jerome Drennon, now 42, who was originally charged with criminal homicide after the July 27, 2018, shooting death of Robert Wilson at the Uptown Suites on President Place in Smyrna. Authorities said the incident began after Wilson attempted to intervene in what witnesses described as Drennon handling a Yorkshire terrier by the scruff of its neck outside his hotel room. According to court records, Wilson confronted Drennon and a physical altercation followed. During that confrontation, Drennon shot Wilson in the chest, killing him.

Police initially considered Drennon armed and dangerous before he later turned himself in to the Smyrna Police Department. He was booked into the Rutherford County Detention Center and held on a $200,000 bond ahead of trial.

At trial, Drennon argued he acted in self-defense after Wilson attacked him. A jury ultimately acquitted him of the most serious charges, including second-degree murder and aggravated assault resulting in death. However, jurors convicted him of tampering with evidence and possession of a handgun after a prior felony drug conviction. The trial court in Rutherford County later imposed an effective sentence of eight years in prison.

In his appeal, Drennon raised multiple arguments. He claimed the trial court improperly suggested to jurors that self-defense did not apply to the firearm possession charge. He also argued that retrying certain charges would violate double jeopardy protections and that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction for tampering with evidence.

However, the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals did not reach the merits of those claims.

Instead, the court focused on procedural issues, concluding that Drennon failed to properly file his appeal within the required timeframe. Under Tennessee law, a motion for a new trial must be filed within 30 days of sentencing. In this case, court records show Drennon filed his initial motion 57 days after the deadline, making it untimely.

Because the late motion did not extend the deadline for filing an appeal, his eventual notice of appeal — filed in July 2024 — was also considered untimely, arriving more than a year and a half after his convictions became final.

Drennon asked the appellate court to waive the delay in the interest of justice, citing issues with his legal representation and arguing that errors during trial affected the outcome. He claimed his trial attorney improperly conceded guilt on the firearm charge and that delays by counsel contributed to the missed deadlines.

The appellate court rejected those arguments, finding that Drennon failed to adequately justify the delay or demonstrate that the interests of justice warranted an exception.

“Defendant has failed to carry his burden of demonstrating that the interest of justice supports waiver,” the court wrote in its opinion dismissing the appeal.

The dismissal leaves Drennon’s convictions for tampering with evidence and unlawful firearm possession in place.

Unusual Circumstances in a Fatal Shooting: The underlying case drew attention not only because of the fatal shooting but also due to the unusual circumstances that led to the confrontation. Animal behavior experts note that holding a puppy by the scruff of its neck — while a technique used by mother dogs with very young pups — can cause pain, injury, or fear when done by humans, particularly as the animal grows older.

Outcome: According to documents filed by the Clerk of the Appellate Courts on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals dismissed Donavous Drennon’s appeal as untimely, leaving his convictions for tampering with evidence and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon intact, along with his eight-year sentence.

MORE: A parole hearing is scheduled to take place in May of 2027, while the sentence is slated to come to a close on January 19, 2028.

Source: Appeal filed by Clerk of the Appellate Courts on March 17, 2026, Tuesday 

Court Case No. 83498, Circuit Court of Rutherford County, TN
Appeal Number: M2024-01145-CCA-R3-CD
Judge: Barry R. Tidwell