ROANE COUNTY – An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Roane County Sheriff’s Office has resulted in the arrest of a Fort Bragg soldier for Second Degree Murder.

On December 24th, at the request of 9th Judicial District Attorney General Russell Johnson, TBI special agents joined deputies with the Roane County Sheriff’s Office to investigate a homicide that occurred in a wooded area near Highway 70 and Fire Tower Road in Rockwood. Upon the arrival of deputies to the scene, Tommy Cooper (DOB: 04/23/1977) was found deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. During the course of the investigation, authorities determined that Jacob Stinnett (DOB 10/01/2001) was responsible for the shooting.

On February 20th, agents obtained an arrest warrant for Stinnett, charging him with one count of Second-Degree Murder. On February 23rd, Stinnett was taken into custody at Fort Bragg Military Base by the U.S Army Criminal Investigation Division. He is currently being held in North Carolina awaiting extradition to Tennessee. 

The charges and allegations referenced in this release are merely accusations of criminal conduct and not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.

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