ricky lee hyatt

A Knoxville man has admitted to shooting another man in the head earlier this week.

Knoxville Police arrested 59-year-old Ricky Lee Hyatt Wednesday evening at a residence on the 900 block of North Roche Street. They were called to the scene for an unknown reason and when they arrived, Hyatt repeatedly told police, “I shot him”. Court documents indicate there were firearms in plain view and blood was on the bathroom floor.

Knoxville Hospital and Clinic’s Emergency Department told police after they arrived on scene that they were treating the victim of a gunshot wound to the head, later identified in court documents as 28-year-old Sean Vrban of Knoxville. Court records indicate Vrban told a Knoxville Police officer, “Rick did this.” Vrban had been transported privately to the Knoxville Hospital and Clinics and was later flown to Mercy of Des Moines Hospital to have surgery related to the injury. He was admitted in critical condition when he arrived in Des Moines and has been upgraded to fair.

Hyatt had previously pled guilty to a carrying weapons charge in 1997 and received a year probation.

Hyatt has been charged with Willful Injury – Causing Serious Injury, a Class C felony. Hyatt is being held at the Marion County Jail on $500 thousand dollars bond and scheduled to appear in court on Friday, October 31st.