KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) – Hundreds turned out on Friday night to remember the life of a Corryton market owner who was shot to death on September 22nd.

James Harrison Mullins, 64 had owned the Rutledge Pike Discount store for several years at the time of his death. He was also considered very popular in the North Knox County community.

His popularity became obvious Friday afternoon when mourners began lining up outside Bridges Funeral Home two hours before his 5:00 p.m. visitation. By the time it began, the line extended outside the funeral home.

"I mean this amount of people speaks in and of itself,” said Laura Gibson, Mullins cousin. “My husband told me, ‘Laura, you're never going to get through that line,’ and I said, ‘then they'll never get to have the funeral at 7:00, because the line won't be through at 7:00."

Mullins will be laid to rest on Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is now helping the Knox County Sheriff’s Office track down the gunman.

Few details about the murder have been released, though family members said investigators have kept them updated and are obviously working very hard to solve the case.

Deputies have confirmed that a customer found Mullins dead just after 4:00 p.m. inside the store. Witnesses saw a blue and silver pickup truck and red sedan speeding away from the scene just after the shooting.

Family members told Volunteer TV News that a drawer from the store’s cash register had been stolen. They also said Mullins was shot with his own gun.

If you have any information about the case, call the Knox County Sheriff’s Office at (865) 215-2243.