In the summer of 2021, a tragic and violent incident cut short the life of 24-year-old Kelsy LeAnn Cook. The events unfolded on the evening of Saturday, July 31, 2021, in the parking lot of Soaky Mountain Waterpark in Sevierville, Tennessee. A dispute escalated into a fatal shooting that would leave one woman dead and another injured.
Kelsy Cook was in a vehicle when Sarah Romine, an off-duty EMT from Knoxville, fired a gun into the car. A bullet struck Cook in the neck. She was airlifted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center for treatment but ultimately succumbed to her injuries. Another woman, Angie Russell, was also shot in the leg during the incident when she and others got out of a different car to confront Romine.
Following the shooting, authorities quickly took suspects into custody. Sarah Romine, a Knox County EMT, was arrested and faced multiple charges, including second-degree murder, several counts of assault, and possession of a firearm while intoxicated. Another individual, Joshua Daniels, identified as an off-duty paramedic who was with Romine, was also arrested and charged with possession of a firearm while intoxicated.
In January 2024, Sarah Romine pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and aggravated assault. As a result of her guilty plea, she was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in the death of Kelsy Cook and the injury of another. The tragic incident prompted Soaky Mountain Waterpark to suspend alcohol sales for the remainder of that year. Kelsy Cook, a graduate of Lenoir City High School, was remembered as a loving daughter, sister, and friend.
