Wayne and Hardin County residents were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Hardin County Sheriff’s Deputy Matthew Locke following a deadly shooting on September 25, 2021.
Just after 8:30 p.m. on September 25, 2021, deputies with the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office, Officer Timmy Dale Harris with the Clifton Police Department, and deputies with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a residence in the Cobb Farm area on the Wayne/Hardin county line in reference to a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, officers made contact with Todd Alan Stricklin, age 49, who was armed with a handgun. Officers ordered Stricklin to drop the weapon, but he refused. As Hardin County Deputy Matthew Locke approached the home to assist, Stricklin shot him. The deputy was transported to a local hospital where he later died.
Stricklin ran from the scene into a wooded area. Numerous law enforcement agencies responded to assist in the search. A few hours later, Stricklin was located and taken into custody by troopers with the Tennessee Highway Patrol. H was initially booked into the Hardin County Jail before being transferred to the Chester County Jail.
A Hardin County Grand Jury later returned a 23-count indictment against Todd Stricklin. The charges included first-degree murder, felony murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder, five counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, aggravated kidnapping, six counts of aggravated assault, domestic assault, interference with an emergency call, reckless endangerment and evading arrest.
Last week, after agreeing to a plea deal, Todd Alan Stricklin was sentenced to 35 years in prison and will be required to serve the full sentence. The family of Matthew Locke agreed to the plea deal, reportedly to save them from potentially decades of appeals.
“Deputy Locke was a deputy and soldier who served his community and his country with honor, courage, commitment, dedication and devotion,” Hardin County Mayor Kevin Davis said after the shooting. “Deputy Locke was known to be a fearless warrior with a servant’s heart. Our community has lost a hero, and a family will never be the same, all because of this senseless tragedy.”
