Chris Stanford, a Tennessee district attorney was indicted on Monday, December 16, for a shooting incident that took place on November 21, in Smithville. Stanford faces charges of reckless endangerment after shooting at a home with a woman and her children inside while pursuing three suspects who are connected to a triple homicide.
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Stanford was pursuing Caleb Dias Brookins, Hannah McKenzi Rose, and Jessica Root. Deputies and a Homeland Security officer joined the pursuit, according to the Daily Mail. When one vehicle ran over the HS officer, Stanford fired multiple shots at the vehicle, missing it and hitting the woman's home.
"On Nov. 21, agents began investigating the incident involving 31st Judicial District Attorney General Christopher Robert Stanford," a statement issued by the Tennesse Bureo of Investigation (TBI) reads. "The investigation revealed that, during the pursuit of a wanted fugitive, Stanford fired a gun several times on Bell Street in Smithville, striking a home occupied by a woman and her three children."
DeKalb County Sheriff Patrick Ray detailed the incident in a statement shared with the Smithville Review. "The female driving the car (Rose) rammed a DeKalb Sheriff's Department truck operated by Chief Deputy Brian Williams, with passenger Detective Stephen Barrett, who were not hurt, but she hit a Homeland Security officer injuring his leg," Ray said. "They were trying to get away and ran up into a yard at a residence on Bell Street."
DA Indicted
Following the incident, Chris Stanford surrendered at the DeKalb County Jail. He was soon released posting his $10,000 bail. Police also caught Brookins, Rose, and Root. Brookins and Root face three counts of criminal homicide, with Rose facing evading arrest and aggravated assault charges. Brookins and Root allegedly murdered William Pechocniski, Dana Ramsden, and Otis Hawks II in McMinnville, according to the Daily Mail.
Stanford would then issue a statement, shared with WTVF, giving his retelling of the incident. "The vehicle then drove toward me and others, accelerating quickly," Stanford said. "I fired my service weapon in defense of myself and others at the scene. Based upon my training and the circumstances that presented themselves, I believe my actions were necessary and justified."
Stanford garnered a wave of criticism and backlash from local authorities and users online. This includes Smithville Mayor Josh Miller. "Unbelievable that Warren County's DA Chris Stanford is running around with the police shooting at police," Miller wrote on Facebook. "Mr. Stanford should leave the police work to the trained professionals."
Chris Stanford is scheduled to make an appearance in court on January 7, 2025.
