Smithville Shooting at Gentlemen’s Club Leads to Arrest in DeKalb County

DEKALB COUNTY, TN – In nearby DeKalb County, an ongoing investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has led to an arrest tied to a weekend shooting in Smithville. The incident occurred late Saturday night at the Midnight Express Gentlemen’s Club.

At the request of 13th Judicial District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway, TBI agents began investigating the case following the events of May 10, 2025.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office initially responded to the adult-themed business located in the 3000 block of Sparta Highway. Upon arrival, deputies found a victim suffering from a gunshot wound. First responders rendered aid at the scene while a medevac helicopter was dispatched. The victim was airlifted to a Nashville hospital, where he remains in treatment.

According to partner station WJLE, DeKalb County Sheriff Patrick Ray stated that 40-year-old James Barsotti of Pleasant Shade, TN, is believed to have shot an employee of the Gentlemen’s Club. The TBI later confirmed that Barsotti was identified as the shooter. He was arrested and charged with one count of attempted second-degree murder.

A statement initially released by the Sheriff’s Office indicated that a call about the shooting came in at 8:22 PM, with deputies arriving at the scene by 8:29 PM. At the club, authorities learned that the shooting occurred in the establishment’s parking lot. After the male victim was shot, he reportedly went back inside the business. Meanwhile, the suspect remained in the parking lot and was allegedly involved in a physical altercation with another individual. Apparently, Barsotti was taken into custody in the parking lot. 

The name of the shooting victim has not been released. 

Barsotti was booked into the DeKalb County Jail on a $300,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on May 29, 2025.

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