COFFEE COUNTY, TN - A death investigation is underway after a man was found dead in Beechgrove on Wednesday (July 24, 2024). Thomas Anthony Randolph reportedly had a confrontation with another subject in Lakewood Park when he was shot and killed.
Coffee County authorities say that 37-year-old Randolph was sitting in the passenger seat of a truck when the suspect, identified as Phillip Lee Meadows, allegedly opened fire – shooting into the vehicle.
Directly after the incident, Coffee County Sheriff Deputies were called to the scene and located both the victim and the 40-year-old suspect. After a brief investigation, deputies placed Meadows in handcuffs and transported him to jail. Meadows was booked on First Degree Murder charges, along with charges of Aggravated Assault and Tampering with Evidence. He currently has no bond.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) aided in the investigation to determine the bullets trajectory. Reports indicate the bullet that killed Randolph entered through his neck. After he was struck, the vehicle he was in drove a short distance away before coming to a stop in the area of Shiloh Road.
Coffee County District Attorney General Craig Northcott told partner station WMSR that Meadows allegedly took steps prior to deputies arriving to hide the gun used in the murder.
The suspect is scheduled to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court for a hearing on Monday, July 29, 2024 at 9 a.m.
Meadows was already scheduled to appear in court on Thursday morning in a neighboring county, the day after Randolph was killed, but instead was behind bars in Coffee County. Meadows was charged over two months ago in Bedford County for his second or greater offense of driving on a revoked license. Court records show that he was supposed to appear in court for the driving related charge, but was already jailed in Manchester for the murder that occurred in Beechgrove.
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