On the Fourth of July in 2018, the life of 65-year-old Chester Falterman, a White/Caucasian male, was cut short by a shotgun wound to the neck at the OK Corral Shooting Range in Woodbury, Tennessee. A prominent and respected cardiologist from Murfreesboro, his sudden death under violent circumstances sent ripples through the community. The initial call to the Cannon County Sheriff's Office at approximately 4:00 p.m. was for an accidental shooting, and early indications from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation suggested that foul play was not suspected.
Despite the initial assessment, the investigation into Dr. Falterman's death remained open. An autopsy was conducted, but the medical examiner was unable to definitively determine the manner of death, leaving the possibilities of it being an accident, a self-inflicted wound, or a homicide unresolved. This ambiguity fueled further inquiry by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, who took the lead in the case at the request of the 16th District Attorney General. The circumstances surrounding the shooting have not been publicly detailed by authorities.
Dr. Falterman was remembered as a hard-working and compassionate physician who had been with St. Thomas Heart in Murfreesboro since 2008. His passing was a significant loss to his family, friends, patients, and colleagues in the medical community. As of the latest available information, the investigation into his death continues, and no arrests have been made, nor have any suspects been publicly identified in connection with the case.
