In the late winter of 2021, a fatal encounter unfolded at a waste management facility in Monterey, Tennessee, leaving one man dead from a gunshot wound. The deceased was identified as Jimmy Doc Gibson, a 59-year-old male resident of Monterey. The incident, which took place on Saturday, February 20, 2021, prompted an immediate response from the Monterey Police Department and the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.
Investigators arriving at the county-owned facility on Old Walton Road began
treating the case as a homicide. Their investigation was aided by the Tennessee Highway Patrol Critical Incident Response Team. A crucial piece of evidence emerged in the form of surveillance video that captured the events leading up to the shooting. The footage showed Jimmy Doc Gibson arriving at the facility in a white truck with another individual. Subsequently, Bruce Buckner drove into the facility in a Jeep.
The video then captured Gibson approaching the driver's side of Buckner's Jeep. According to witness statements and the video evidence, Gibson appeared to be challenging Buckner. Witnesses reported that Buckner told Gibson to 'get away' as he approached. The situation escalated when Gibson, who was seen handling an object that investigators later identified as a yellow folding blade knife found next to his body, lunged towards Buckner. It was at this moment that Buckner, while still seated in his vehicle, fired a single shot from a handgun, striking Gibson in the abdomen. Gibson then walked away and collapsed behind a dumpster.
After a thorough review of all the evidence, including the surveillance footage, witness interviews, and physical evidence, the 13th Judicial District Attorney's Office concluded that Bruce Buckner had acted in self-defense. As a result of this determination, no criminal charges were filed against him in connection with the death of Jimmy Doc Gibson.
