In the quiet town of Clifton, Tennessee, a domestic disturbance call on the night of September 25, 2021, escalated into a tragedy that would claim the life of a dedicated public servant. Hardin County Deputy Sheriff Matthew Locke, a 30-year-old male, was fatally shot while responding to the incident at a residence on Nance Bend Road. A seven-year veteran of the department and a Tennessee Army National Guard veteran, he was known for his commitment to his community and country.
That
evening, officers from the Clifton Police Department and deputies from both the Hardin and Wayne County Sheriff's Offices were dispatched to a home where a man was reported to be involved in a domestic dispute. Upon their arrival, they encountered Todd Alan Stricklin, who was armed with a handgun and refused commands to drop his weapon. As Deputy Locke approached the residence to assist his fellow officers, Stricklin opened fire, striking and fatally wounding him. Deputy Locke was transported to a nearby hospital, but succumbed to his injuries shortly after his arrival.
Following the shooting, Stricklin fled into a nearby wooded area, prompting a manhunt involving multiple law enforcement agencies. A few hours later, he was located and apprehended by members of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Stricklin, who was 48 at the time of the incident, was subsequently charged with first-degree murder. In March 2022, a Hardin County Grand Jury returned a 23-count indictment against him, which included charges of First Degree Murder, Felony Murder, and multiple counts of Attempted First Degree Murder and Aggravated Assault.
In January 2024, Todd Alan Stricklin entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder in Hardin County Circuit Court. As part of a plea agreement, which the Locke family reportedly agreed to in order to avoid potentially lengthy appeals, Stricklin was sentenced to 35 years in prison without the possibility of parole. He also pleaded guilty to five counts of aggravated assault, with the sentences for those charges to be served concurrently with his murder sentence. Deputy Locke is survived by his wife and child.
