Early Thursday, a grim discovery along a quiet stretch of Smithville Highway shook a rural Tennessee community: 41-year-old Ashleigh E. McKinzie — a sociologist and longtime faculty member at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) — was found dead in the roadway, apparently the victim of a shooting.
Deputies from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call around 4:51 a.m. on December 4 for a reported shooting near Captain’s Point Road, on Highway 56 North. What awaited them was chilling: McKinzie, lying in the road with “apparent gunshot wounds,” was pronounced dead at the scene.
Next to her body lay a loaded, cocked handgun. Officials later determined the firearm belonged to McKinzie.
Also at the scene was a 27-year-old man, Todd C. Stanton. Investigators say a separate handgun — registered to him — was found on the hood of his truck. Stanton is reportedly cooperating with authorities. As of now, no criminal charges have been filed.
The gravity of the loss has resonated across the MTSU community. McKinzie, who taught in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, joined the university faculty in 2017. Her colleagues described her as a dedicated educator whose presence will be deeply missed. In a statement, MTSU extended its condolences to her family, students and coworkers — and encouraged those affected to make use of campus counseling and support services.
Authorities, including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), are working alongside local deputies to unravel the circumstances that led to this tragedy. So far, investigators have not disclosed how many times McKinzie was shot or the precise locations of her wounds. The case remains active.
At its heart, this is a story of sudden loss — a respected professor gone far too soon, a community rattled, unanswered questions, and a quiet highway turned crime scene. The search for clarity continues.
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