Mystery deepens after Tennessee professor shot dead in roadway — 2 guns, 1 man, no answers

Circumstances remain unclear after Ashleigh E. McKinzie, a 41-year-old professor at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), was found shot dead early Thursday morning, December 4, 2025, on a rural Tennessee highway. Authorities say it is still unknown who fired the fatal shot or why two guns were present at the scene.

Deputies from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department responded at around 4:51 a.m. on December 4 to a call near Captain’s Point Road on Smithville Highway. When they arrived, they found McKinzie lying in the roadway with “apparent gunshot wounds.” Next to her body was a “loaded and cocked handgun,” which investigators say belonged to McKinzie.

According to Nashville’s WKRN, a 27-year-old man, identified as Todd C. Stanton, was also on the scene. Investigators recovered Stanton’s own handgun on the hood of his truck. Authorities say he is cooperating with investigators.

Because of the unusual circumstances — two firearms, a roadway shooting, and a body — the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the district attorney’s office have been called in to assist in the investigation.

Online speculation offers theories

Amid conflicting early accounts, some on social media have offered theories, though nothing has been verified by police. One commenter wrote: “I can only infer one or two things. The fact that the other party left his firearm on display on the hood of his car is somewhat of a clue that perhaps one or both parties found themselves needing to defend themselves from an unknown party bearing a firearm.”

According to the comment, after a self-defense shooting, gun owners are taught to leave their weapon on the ground and not to touch it. Or instead, “It could be the professor self-harmed, and the other person simply called police, and because he carries, he left his personal weapon where it could be seen when law enforcement arrived,” the comment speculated.

Another post asserted the commenter knew the young man and insisted he fired in self-defense. “But I hate this for both families. Prayers for all,” the comment said.

The investigation is ongoing

These suggestions — that the shooting might have been self-defense or suicide — remain unconfirmed theories at this time. MTSU confirmed McKinzie’s death in a statement, describing her as a valued member of their Sociology and Anthropology Department. The university also encouraged students, faculty, and staff to seek support as needed.

According to Bryant C. Dunaway, the District Attorney for Tennessee’s 13th Judicial District, no charges have been filed so far. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not publicly disclosed how many times McKinzie was shot or exactly where on her body the injuries were.

Investigators have explicitly stated they do not yet know what happened, whether this was a homicide, a suicide, or a tragic accident. The presence of two guns adds to the complexity of the case, and forensic work, interviews, and evidence collection are reportedly still underway.