PUTNAM COUNTY, TN - The Tennessee Highway Patrol reports that the second suspect wanted for shooting a State Trooper was apprehended late Monday night and transported to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office jail. Before being booked, Timothy L. Davis Jr. was forced to walk past at least 15 Troopers standing in solidarity to show support for their fellow officer who was shot.
25-Year-old Davis was arrested for his alleged involvement in the shooting of Trooper Adam Cothron. He was transported from Nashville to Cookeville, TN, arriving at the jail just before 10:30 PM on Monday. The Tennessee Highway Patrol expressed their gratitude to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, stating, “We are thankful to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for all your assistance.”
Davis was allegedly wearing a blue latex glove when he reportedly fired the gun, just before speeding away. Matt Perry, Colonel of the THP, later said during a media briefing, “The suspects, two black males, were driving in a white Kia Forte, which was found abandoned near Highway 109 in Sumner County." The vehicle appeared to have been set on fire. Through cellphone signals and cell tower coverage, authorities were able to track down the duo.
29-Year-old Braze Rucker was booked into the same facility about three hours before Davis. Rucker, reportedly the passenger in the sedan, was caught in Kentucky on Sunday night by Kentucky State Police. Arresting officers used Trooper Cothron's handcuffs when taking Rucker into custody.
Trooper Cothron was initially listed in critical condition following the incident but had improved to stable condition by Sunday. By Monday, he was reported to be doing much better. Both Davis and Rucker face charges related to the shooting.
Davis was charged with attempted first-degree murder and Rucker is charged with criminal responsibility of facilitation of a felony.
Prior Release from the THP: On July 19, at approximately 7:47 p.m. while on patrol in Putnam County on I-40, mile marker 285, near the Burgess Falls exit, Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) Trooper Adam Cothron pulled a white Kia Forte over for a traffic violation. During the interaction with the two black males within the Kia Trooper Cothron was shot. The two males then fled the scene and abandoned the Kia on Hwy 109 near Gallatin, Tenn. Trooper Cothron was flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville where he is in stable condition.
Before joining the THP in 2015 Trooper Cothron was a former Deputy Sheriff for the Trousdale County Sheriff’s Office. He is a certified K-9 handler and is an outstanding trooper and comes from a respected law enforcement family, but what he is best known for is being a father and a husband to his wonderful family. We ask that you please keep him and his family in your prayers.
The trooper's body-worn camera recorded an image of a male passenger in the Kia. That person was identified as Braze Rucker, a 29-year-old black male. The THP and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) have obtained warrants for the arrest of Rucker for his Criminal Responsibility of Facilitation of a Felony in relation to the shooting of a THP Trooper Adam Cothron in Putnam County, TN.
The THP, TBI along with countless other law enforcement agencies across Tennessee are collaboratively working to locate Rucker and the other individual(s) of the Kia Forte. We are seeking a non-violent resolution to the apprehension of all individuals involved in this extremely violen situation. The search is ongoing, and we are limited to the information that can be released. Please continue to follow the THP and TBI social media sites for updates.
There is a reward of up to $10,000 being offered for information leading to the arrest of Braze Rucker. If anyone has any information that will help law enforcement locate these individuals, please call 1-800- TBI-Find. If you spot Rucker, do not approach him, he is considered armed and dangerous but instead, we ask that you dial 911 immediately. The TBI has also placed Rucker on T.B.I.'s Most Wanted.
DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The arrest records or information about an arrest that are published or reported on NewsRadio WGNS and www.WGNSradio.com are not an indication of guilt or evidence that an actual crime has been committed.
