The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting that left one man dead Wednesday at 2:30 a.m. in a warehouse parking lot at 10720 Lexington Drive.  Dead is 34 year old James Edward Hodges, Jr. of Loudon.  Detectives say he tried to break in a semi-tractor trailer while the driver was asleep in the sleeper cabin.  According to officers, Hodges approached the truck earlier and tried to open the doors.  He left, but returned a short time later and broke out a window with a rock.  That’s when the trucker woke up.  Hodges left again, but returned and was trying to climb into the truck when the driver shot him.  He died on the scene.

The truck driver was taken to Baptist West with chest pains and is expected to be admitted.  Detectives will be meeting with the Knox County District Attorney’s Office later today to discuss if there will be any charges.  A female family member was riding with Hodges during the incident.

Hodges has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 1992 for burglary, numerous thefts, driving under the influence, drug charges, aggravated assault, numerous failures to appear, unlawful possession of a weapon, driving while privilege revoked, criminal trespassing, violation of probation, possession of burglary tools, and according to the arrest report, was also wanted in other counties for theft and other charges.