Strode, 33, opens fire on motorist
A McMinnville man faces felony charges after he allegedly opened fire on a motorist in Cookeville Tuesday.
The suspect, Weylin Trent Strode, 33, who is a present resident of McMinnville but has formerly lived in Cookeville, is charged with aggravated assault and reckless endangerment for firing at the car driven by Jennifer Eldridge, 31. Neither Eldridge nor a male passenger in the car were injured.
According to Putnam County Sheriff’s reports, the incident happened Tuesday morning outside the BP station near the intersection of East Spring Street and Kentucky Road. Lawmen, who responded to investigate a call of shots being fired, reportedly found Strode outside on a pay phone. He was questioned at the scene because he fit the description of the man who was allegedly firing the weapon.
Strode denied participating in the shooting when questioned; however, lawmen found a .22 caliber handgun near the phone booth and later found a bullet clip in the station’s restroom. Strode was identified as the shooter by Eldridge who was brought back to the scene.
The reason for Strode’s alleged gunplay is still under investigation. Lawmen believe Strode fired one shot at the vehicle, before the victims sped away to contact officers.