Samuel Edwards, 34, was wanted in Middle Tennessee for attempted criminal homicide of a Hendersonville police officer and evading arrest.
On Tuesday morning, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) issued a statewide Blue Alert, but later that day, at around 9.20 p.m., they said that Edwards was dead. He died after a shooting with Kentucky State Police, reported 10News.
UPDATE: Samuel Edwards, the subject of a Blue Alert issued today, was involved in an exchange of gunfire with Kentucky State Police. He is deceased. pic.twitter.com/imJOVaarXn
— Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (@TBInvestigation) June 29, 2022
Just after 7.55 p.m. Monday, Hendersonville Police initiated a traffic stop on Vietnam Veterans Boulevard. A Hendersonville officer called in a tag number on a black van and it didn't match, Metro Nashville Police said. The officer tried to stop the van, but shortly after beginning the pursuit, someone inside the van started shooting at the man in uniform. Edwards, who was believed to be armed with two guns, abandoned his van on Gibson Drive in Madison and fled, said police.
The officer is "doing fine" and was not critically wounded in the shooting, said the Hendersonville Police Department. There was evidence of a bullet entering the officer’s vehicle through the front windshield, said police.
The suspect seemed to have stolen a pickup truck with the keys left inside near his last location, said Metro Police. The truck was found Tuesday morning in Millersville, but Edwards was not located.
Edwards had a long criminal history including drugs, violence, weapons and alcohol, according to wkrn.com. The criminal report started in 2005, when Edwards was 18. An arrest document revealed that after his fifth Driving Under Influence and some drug charges in 2017, he was sent to prison. He was sentenced to five years, but he got out in 2019.
On June 14, his alleged criminal behavior escalated. It was reportedly at that time that he and a female passenger were badly injured during a high speed chase and crash in Putnam county, outside of Cookeville. Edwards was reportedly driving a blue Chevy Suburban that was said to be firing shots into another car at the 301 mile marker. The car chase ended within two miles when the Suburban lost control. It struck a large ditch and power pole on East Spring Street, and the impact ejected the female passenger into the parking lot. As for Edwards, he ran then collapsed 100 yards from the crash.
The officer chasing him had his gun drawn and was commanding the suspect to surrender, but he reached into his waistband and drew down on the officer as if he had a weapon. Edwards continued to resist but was eventually handcuffed, and was taken to Cookeville Regional Medical center for his injuries. He went to the Putnam County Jail on a slew of charges that included evading arrest and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
He posted $79,800 bond, and while out of jail, on Monday night, he allegedly fled from a Hendersonville Police officer. Edwards reportedly leaned a long gun out the window during the chase and fired multiple shots, and one of those bullets hit the Hendersonville officer.
