Waffle House Shooting Suspect Captured After Overnight Manhunt in Cookeville

On November 18, 2025, at approximately 12:12 a.m., officers with the Cookeville Police Department responded to a reported shooting at the Waffle House on South Willow Avenue.

When officers arrived, they located a 21-year-old male suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Preliminary information indicates that a verbal altercation occurred in the parking lot between the victim’s group and an adult male suspect, later identified as Derrick J. Brown, 40. During the confrontation, Brown allegedly produced a firearm and shot the victim before fleeing the scene on foot.

The victim was transported to Cookeville Regional Medical Center and later transferred to Vanderbilt Medical Center, where he remains in critical but stable condition.

Throughout the early morning hours, Cookeville Police conducted an extensive search, deploying drones, K9 units, and additional patrol officers. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Highway Patrol assisted in the manhunt.

At approximately 10:31 a.m., officers located Brown at a business on Gould Drive in Cookeville. He was taken into custody without incident and charged with:

This incident remains an active and ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Matheney at 931-520-5223.

Highlands Insider will continue to follow this story as updates become available.