Grundy County deputy indicted after fatally shooting passenger while pursuing vehicle

Toby M. Holmes
Toby M. Holmes
photo Toby M. Holmes

A Grundy County, Tennessee sheriff's deputy has been indicted in the 2017 shooting death of a passenger in a vehicle whose driver was being pursued, a news release states.

Susan Niland, public information officer with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, said in the release that Deputy Toby M. Holmes was indicted Tuesday by the Grundy County Grand Jury on one count of voluntary manslaughter. He was arrested Wednesday afternoon and booked into the Grundy County Jail on a $10,000 bond.

Niland said TBI special agents investigated the officer-involved shooting that occurred around 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 24, 2017, in Tracy City.

Agents determined Deputy Holmes had attempted the traffic stop of a vehicle, but the driver fail to stop and a pursuit ensued.

On B Mine Road, the driver spun the vehicle around, facing the deputy, and Holmes fired on it. He continued firing as the vehicle went past him, according to the TBI.

One bullet traveled through the vehicle and killed passenger Shelby Comer, agents determined. The vehicle subsequently crashed on the roadside.

The victim's body was found in the vehicle. The driver was not present but later was located and charged by Grundy County officials.

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