Bounty hunter update: dead fugitive was outlaw country music star Randy Howard

Randy Howard

Authorities say a country music singer has been killed in a gunfight with a bounty hunter trying to detain him.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spokesman Josh DeVine said in an email Thursday the agency is looking into Tuesday night's shooting of 65-year-old Randy Howard. Howard's LinkedIn site says he has shared the stage with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams Jr.

DeVine said bounty hunter Jackie Shell showed up at Howard's home to take him into custody for missing a court appearance. DeVine said Howard opened fire, the bounty hunter shot back and Howard was killed.

DeVine said Shell was trying to detain Howard on a warrant charging him with fourth-offense DUI, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm while intoxicated and driving on a revoked license.

PREVIOUS STORY FOLLOWS:

A bounty hunter working to serve a Marion County, Tenn., warrant shot it out with a fugitive in Lynchburg, Tenn., on Tuesday night.

Mary Jane Shell, mother of injured bondsman Jackie Shell, said her son was transported to Erlanger hospital for treatment and was in surgery as she spoke with the Times Free Press Wednesday afternoon.

The bounty hunter was wounded and his quarry, 65-year-old Randy Howard, died, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

TBI spokesman Josh DeVine said Shell, who works for A Plus Bail Bonding in Dunlap, Tenn.,, had a Marion County warrant for Howard on charges of fourth-offense DUI, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm while intoxicated and driving on a revoked license.

DeVine said the Shell went inside Howard's home on Griffin Road in Lynchburg and was met by gunfire. Shell fired back and the target was killed.

Marion County Sheriff Ronnie "Bo" Burnett confirmed the man who shot it out with a bounty hunter Tuesday night in Lynchburg, Tenn., was wanted on a Marion County warrant.

"He'd been in jail here for a pretty good while. He didn't show up for court so they had a failure to appear out on him. That's what the jail told me," Burnett said told the Times Free Press.