PRINCETON, KY - The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation reports that Braze Rucker, sought in connection to the shooting of Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) Trooper Adam Cothron is in custody.
The suspect was captured after being found in Princeton, Kentucky. The Kia Forte referenced in earlier posts related to this #TNBlueAlert has been recovered in Sumner County.
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Tennessee Highway Patrol — The vehicle, a white Kia Forte was recovered and the passenger, Braze Rucker, age 29, is in custody.
Passenger, Braze Rucker was found in Princeton, Kentucky (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation)
Investigative efforts continue to identify the driver of the white Kia Forte, which was involved in the shooting of a Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper on 1-40 East, near Cookeville, Tennessee on Friday, July 19, 2024. Anyone with information is encouraged to call 1-800-TBI-FIND. A reward up to $20,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest.
BACKGROUND:
Tennessee Highway Patrol Seeks Information in the Shooting of a Tennessee State Trooper
Saturday, July 20, 2024 | 12:31pm
On July 19, at approximately 7:47 p.m. while on patrol in Putnam County on I-40, mile marker 285, near the Burgess Falls exit, Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) Trooper Adam Cothron pulled a white Kia Forte over for a traffic violation. During the interaction with the two black males within the Kia Trooper Cothron was shot. The two males then fled the scene and abandoned the Kia on Hwy 109 near Gallatin, Tenn. Trooper Cothron was flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville where he is in stable condition.
Before joining the THP in 2015 Trooper Cothron was a former Deputy Sheriff for the Trousdale County Sheriff’s Office. He is a certified K-9 handler and is an outstanding trooper and comes from a respected law enforcement family, but what he is best known for is being a father and a husband to his wonderful family. We ask that you please keep him and his family in your prayers.
The trooper's body-worn camera recorded an image of a male passenger in the Kia. That person was identified as Braze Rucker, a 29-year-old black male. The THP and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) have obtained warrants for the arrest of Rucker for his Criminal Responsibility of Facilitation of a Felony in relation to the shooting of a THP Trooper Adam Cothron in Putnam County, TN.
The THP, TBI along with countless other law enforcement agencies across Tennessee are collaboratively working to locate Rucker and the other individual(s) of the Kia Forte. We are seeking a non-violent resolution to the apprehension of all individuals involved in this extremely violen situation. The search is ongoing, and we are limited to the information that can be released. Please continue to follow the THP and TBI social media sites for updates.
There is a reward of up to $10,000 being offered for information leading to the arrest of Braze Rucker. If anyone has any information that will help law enforcement locate these individuals, please call 1-800- TBI-Find. If you spot Rucker, do not approach him, he is considered armed and dangerous but instead, we ask that you dial 911 immediately. The TBI has also placed Rucker on T.B.I.'s Most Wanted.
