A Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper was shot near Cookeville on I-40, inciting a manhunt for the two suspects involved. The incident, which occurred on Friday evening around mile marker 285, led to the temporary shutdown of eastbound lanes as law enforcement responded to the scene.
In an update shortly after the shooting, THP described the suspects as "two black males with facial tattoos" who fled in a white Kia Forte, advising the public to stay vigilant. The vehicle, believed to be bearing a Tennessee temporary license plate with the tag Q9SC4JR, was later found in Gallatin, said the THP in a statement obtained by WVLT. Despite the vehicle's recovery, authorities were still to actively search for the individuals responsible.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued a Blue Alert and added one suspect, 29-year-old Braze Rucker, to their Most Wanted list. Rucker faces felony charges in connection to the trooper's shooting. Anyone with information has been encouraged to reach out to authorities. "If you have any information that will aid us in locating this person along with the other individual involved please dial 911 immediately," urged THP in their appeal to the public, as reported by WATE.
The injured trooper was initially treated at Cookeville Regional Medical Center before being flown to a Nashville hospital. According to THP, the trooper is in a stable condition, which was echoed by District Attorney Bryant Dunaway who confirmed that the trooper's injuries did not appear to be life-threatening. Review of the footage is underway to gather further information on the incident," the THP commissioner told WSMV. The investigation led to a detour of eastbound I-40 traffic, but the roadway has since been reopened.
Authorities advise to carefully approach any encounters with the suspects as they should be considered armed and dangerous. A $2,500 reward is being offered for information leading to Rucker's arrest. The public can contact TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND (824-3463) or local law enforcement with any potential leads.
