BEECHGROVE, TN (WGNS) - An officer‑involved shooting unfolded just before 8 o’clock Friday night (8/28/2026) near the Coffee–Rutherford County line, along Lakewood Drive in the Beechgrove community. It’s a quiet rural stretch where Coffee County bumps right up against Rutherford, and deputies were out conducting saturation patrols and warrant checks when things took a sudden and violent turn.

Coffee County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Frank Watkins confirmed that during the Friday night patrol, a suspect attacked a deputy with a machete. Another officer fired, striking the suspect. No details about the deputy have been released — a standard part of Tennessee Bureau of Investigation protocol.

Under Tennessee law, anytime a deputy or officer is involved in a shooting, the TBI steps in as an independent fact‑finding agency. Agents responded to Lakewood Drive Friday night, interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence. Their job is strictly investigative; they do not decide whether the shooting was justified. That determination will be made later by Coffee County District Attorney General Craig Northcott once the TBI’s findings are complete.

Sheriff Chad Partin has not yet issued a public statement, and the deputy’s name remains withheld as the investigation continues. The location of the incident — right near the county line — is an area where Coffee and Rutherford deputies often overlap during patrols, adding another layer of attention to Friday night’s events.

As more information becomes available, NewsRadio WGNS will keep you updated.