Hendersonville Standard
HENDERSONVILLE WEATHER

Hendersonville man who shot HPD officer killed in Kentucky





Samuel EdwardsSubmitted

Samuel EdwardsSubmitted

A Hendersonville man with a lengthy criminal history was shot and killed Tuesday night by Kentucky State Police in Louisville, one day after he shot a Hendersonville police officer during a chase in Sumner County.

The fatal shooting of Samuel Edwards, 34, was announced on Twitter by the Metro Nashville Police Department. Charges of attempted first-degree murder of a law officer and evading arrest had been filed against him earlier Tuesday.

The incident in Tennessee began at around 8 p.m. on Monday night when HPD officer Cameron “Cole” Ferrell initiated a traffic stop on a black minivan at the Vietnam Veterans Boulevard and West Main Street entrance, according to HPD.

The vehicle fled from the traffic stop and the driver, later identified as Edwards, fired several shots at Ferrell on the ramp to Vietnam Veterans Blvd. Ferrell continued the pursuit southbound and notified Metro Nashville police as the pursuit entered their jurisdiction.

Hendersonville police say they backed off and maintained a visual of Edward’s vehicle as he exited onto Old Hickory Blvd. Edwards again fired numerous shots at Ferrell with one of the rounds striking the officer.

HPD Officer Cole FerrellSubmitted

HPD Officer Cole FerrellSubmitted

Ferrell, 26, was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with a non-critical wound. He has since been released from the hospital.

The officer was a day short of being on the force for a year when he was shot, according to HPD Chief Mickey Miller. He previously worked for the Gallatin Police Department for several years.

Metro Nashville police released photos from the incident that showed a bullet hole in the upper corner of the driver side windshield of Ferrell’s patrol car.

Edwards abandoned his van on Gibson Drive in Madison and fled on foot. Police from several agencies blanketed the area by air and ground searching for Edwards who was captured on Ring video carrying two firearms, according to Metro Nashville police spokesperson Don Aaron.

Police say that Edwards then stole a white Chevy Silverado from the driveway of a home nearby after the owner left the keys in the vehicle.

The stolen truck was found by Millersville police on Cycle Lane off of Bethel Road late Monday.

A portion of I-65 was closed on Tuesday as canine units with the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office as well as other agencies searched for Edwards off of I-65 South near Millersville.

The search for Edwards continued until Tuesday night when he was located in Louisville, Ky. where he engaged in a shoot out with police, according to HPD.

Suspect charged weeks ago with evading arrest

Edwards was arrested and charged by Tennessee Highway Patrol officers on June 14 following an incident on I-40 West in Cookeville. In that incident, motorists reported that a Chevy blue Suburban was firing shots into a gold passenger vehicle while traveling along the Interstate, according to a THP media release.

When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver accelerated and initiated a pursuit onto State Route 70 West. Less than two miles into the chase, the driver, later identified as Edwards, lost control of the vehicle, hit a telephone pole and fled on foot. Edwards was caught after a short foot pursuit and charged with felony evading arrest by motor vehicle, felon in possession of a handgun, felony possession of methamphetamine and marijuana, possession of a handgun during the commission of a felony, leaving the scene of a crash with injury, resisting arrest, driving on a revoked license, possession of drug paraphernalia, DUI 6th, and vehicular assault.

A female passenger who was ejected during the crash, was also arrested and charged by police in that incident. Both were convicted felons and in possession of handguns and one-half ounce of meth, according to the THP. The two were taken into custody and transported to a local hospital for injuries in the crash.

After a preliminary investigation, the FBI adopted the case due to the suspects’ criminal history, according to the THP media release.

Edwards was released June 21 on a $79,800 bond, according to Putnam County online court records. Records show a preliminary hearing was scheduled for June 22, but he was granted a continuance.

Edwards, who lived on Allen Drive in Hendersonville according to court records, had a lengthy criminal history in Sumner County as well.

Sumner County General Sessions Court records show he was charged by Hendersonville police in November of 2019 with two counts of simple possession of marijuana; one count of possession of meth and possession of drug paraphernalia. He pled guilty to three of the charges and the meth charge was dismissed.

In August of 2016 Edwards was charged in Sumner County Criminal Court with DUI fifth; driving on a suspended license for a second time; simple possession; and evading arrest after crashing into a guardrail on Sanders Ferry Road and running from police on foot. He pleaded guilty to the charges in February of 2017 and was sentenced to three years in the Tennessee Department of Corrections to be served at 35 percent.

In September of 2015, Edwards was arrested and charged by HPD with DUI fourth; driving on a suspended license; leaving the scene of an accident and implied consent. He was charged with two counts of theft $1,000-$10,000 in 2013 and pleaded guilty to both charges in 2014, according to court records.

Leave a Reply