A fatal shooting in Coffee County has led to the arrest of 40-year-old Phillip Lee Meadows, who is facing charges including first-degree murder. According to WSMV, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the death of Thomas Anthony Randolph, 37, who suffered a gunshot wound. The shooting occurred yesterday in the Beechgrove area, and Meadows was taken into custody and is currently held at the Coffee County Jail without bond set.
Details provided by the Coffee County District Attorney General Craig Northcott revealed that Randolph was a passenger in a vehicle in the area of Atlanta Road in Lakewood Park when he was shot. Meadows was identified as the shooter. "Phillip Lee Meadows... allegedly took steps prior to law enforcement arriving to hide the gun used and other evidence in the case," Northcott disclosed in a statement shared by Thunder Radio News. Besides first-degree murder, Meadows is charged with aggravated assault and tampering with evidence.
The victim, Thomas Anthony Randolph, was found dead at a home on Shiloh Road, with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation assisting in the case. In addition to the charges, Meadows is scheduled to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court on Monday, July 29. "This is an ongoing investigation. Please pray for the victim’s family and respect their privacy in this difficult time,," Northcott added, urging sensitivity toward the victim's family during this trying period.
Further information on the case obtained by WKRN detailed that Randolph was apparently caught in a confrontation that precipitated the shooting, leading to multiple shots fired into the truck he was in, ultimately resulting in his fatal injury. As this story develops, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department continues to work in collaboration with authorities to piece together the full circumstances surrounding the homicide.
