A Soldier assigned to Fort Bragg is facing a second-degree murder charge after authorities say he fatally shot his uncle on Christmas Eve in eastern Tennessee.
Jail records from the Cumberland County Detention Center in North Carolina show Jacob Ryan Stinnett, 24, was booked February 23, 2026, on a Tennessee fugitive hold connected to the shooting death of his uncle, Tommy James Cooper, 48, in Roane County.
Investigators say the shooting occurred on December 24, 2025, in a wooded area near Highway 70 and Fire Tower Road in Rockwood, where Cooper was found dead from an apparent gunshot wound.
The investigation is being conducted by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation in coordination with the Roane County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities say agents obtained an arrest warrant on February 20 charging Stinnett with one count of second-degree murder.
Stinnett was taken into custody on February 23 at Fort Bragg by agents with the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division. Jail records indicate he later waived extradition on February 25, clearing the way for his transfer to Tennessee to face the charge.
As of March 5, records reviewed by TheSaltySoldier.com show Stinnett remains held at the Cumberland County Detention Center in Fayetteville, North Carolina pending transfer to Tennessee authorities.
Officials with the 82nd Airborne Division confirmed Stinnett is assigned to the division and said the Army is aware of the arrest.
“We are aware of the arrest of Spc. Jacob Stinnett in connection to a shooting that occurred in Rockwood, Tenn., on Dec. 24,” a military spokesperson said in a statement. “We are working with local authorities and the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division.”
TheSaltySoldier.com also reached out to the XVIII Airborne Corps Public Affairs Office for additional information regarding Stinnett’s unit assignment and duty status. A response had not been received at the time of publication.
Authorities have not yet publicly released additional details about the events leading up to the shooting.
The case also carries a notable background involving the victim. District Attorney General Russell Johnson confirmed that Cooper had previously been charged in July 2025 with prohibited weapons violations after bounty hunters attempting to locate him reportedly discovered explosive devices on his property.
According to investigators, that earlier case involved items including an inert military rocket launcher and several hoax explosive devices, prompting a multi-agency law enforcement response.
It remains unclear whether that earlier investigation is connected to the circumstances surrounding Cooper’s death.
The Salty Soldier has submitted requests for additional information and records related to the case from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Roane County Sheriff’s Office, and court officials in Roane County.
Authorities emphasize that the charge against Stinnett is an allegation and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Further details about the circumstances of the Christmas Eve shooting have not yet been released.
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