Murfreesboro, TN - A week ago, you heard the story on WGNS about a carjacking that reportedly began in Murfreesboro, included a high-speed chase, and ended with a fatal crash in McMinnville. The on-going investigation has uncovered another potential link to the crime.
A Murfreesboro resident told police that she was awakened early last Thursday (10/24/2024) by the sound of several gunshots. The quiet night was then broken by heavy pounding on her front door by a frightened woman screaming for help.
Police were called, and a neighbor told them that he saw what happened and confirmed the story.
Detectives indicate that multiple bullet holes were also found in the front door of the woman’s south Murfreesboro home. In addition, another bullet went through the upstairs wall and lodged in her son’s bed. Fortunately, the child was sleeping downstairs.
It was 20 or so minutes later that a carjacking occurred just down the road at the Waffle House on South Church Street. Police reports show that 24-year-old Brandon James, formally of Murfreesboro, carjacked a truck from the restaurant. The stolen truck was later found in Warren County, but details on what happened next are still unclear.
Officials only confirmed that James switched to another vehicle, prompting a multi-agency pursuit involving the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Warren County Sheriffs Office, and McMinnville Police.
The chase came to a horrific end when James's vehicle struck 61-year-old Phyllis Prater’s car head-on. Both Mrs. Prater and James were pronounced deceased at the scene.
Prater was a beloved member of the Warren County community. She was the owner of Prater's BBQ in McMinnville and Manchester, and the wife of Warren County Commissioner Gary Prater.
Authorities have not yet disclosed what led to the crash, but they emphasized that James's actions put many lives in danger. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol, and the District Attorney’s office continue to investigate.
If you saw or have heard anything, please share your information with the Murfreesboro police. You can phone their non-emergency number: 615-893-1311, or you can be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000 if your tip leads to an arrest and conviction. Phone CrimeStoppers at 615-893 STOP (7867).
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