Alexandria, Tennessee — October 4, 2025: Authorities identified Gary Ray Ashford, age 48, as the man shot and killed by deputies with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office while they were attempting to serve an arrest warrant at a residence on Goodner Lane.
According to officials, deputies arrived to serve a warrant for failure to appear in court related to prior charges. When officers arrived, they say Ashford refused commands to exit the home. Deputies forced entry into the house and found that Ashford had locked himself inside a bedroom.
Police claim that Ashford exited the room and charged at deputies with a bladed utility knife, prompting them to open fire. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No deputies were injured during the incident.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is leading the review, while the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office continues to cooperate with state authorities. The case remains under a pending investigation.
Local news coverage from WKRN News 2, WSMV 4, WJLE, and The Herald-Citizen detailed the events and subsequent investigation into the shooting.
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Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available reports as of the date of publication. Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys does not independently verify third-party claims and makes no representation regarding the completeness or accuracy of external reporting. All individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.