Blue Alert: Suspects wanted after Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper shot in Putnam County

PUTNAM COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Interstate 40 East in Putnam County was closed Friday night due to a trooper-involved shooting near mile marker 285 outside Cookeville.

According to Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), the incident took place on Friday, July 19 at approximately 7:47 p.m. near the Burgess Fall exit.

Officials said Trooper Adam Cothron pulled over a white Kia Forte for a traffic violation and was shot during the interaction. Shortly after, the vehicle fled on Highway 109 near Gallatin.

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Just after 9 p.m., THP posted to X that they were “actively searching for two black males with facial tattoos driving a white Kia Forte.”

Then, minutes later, THP posted a picture of the vehicle wanted in connection with the shooting. Officials described the suspect vehicle as a white Kia Forte with a possible Tennessee temporary tag that reads Q9SC4JR.

Just after midnight, THP announced that the suspect vehicle was recovered in the Sumner County. However, the search for the driver and passenger remained ongoing.

Authorities then uploaded a photo of the passenger involved in the incident, identifying him as 29-year-old Braze Rucker.

“If you have any information that will aid us in locating this person along with the other individual involved please dial 911 immediately,” the update read.

A Blue Alert was issued for Rucker and he has since been added to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s “Most Wanted” list. Officials said he faces a felony charge in connection to the shooting and should be considered armed and dangerous.

On Saturday, July 20, THP announced that there is a reward of up to $10,000 being offered for any information that could lead to Rucker’s arrest.

Anyone who spots him should not approach him, officials said. Instead, call 1-800-TBI-FIND or 423-954-2130.

The trooper, identified as Trooper Adam Cothron, was first treated at Cookeville Regional Medical Center and was then flown to a Nashville hospital. According to THP, Cothron is in stable condition.

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THP said Cothron joined the agency in 2015 and was a former deputy sheriff for the Trousdale County Sheriff’s Office.

News 2 has reached out to THP for more information.

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This is a developing story . WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.

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