In the late winter of 2018, the community of Clinton, Tennessee, was shaken by the sudden and violent death of Bradley Charles Bivens. A 48-year-old white male, Bivens was known as a loving husband, father, and grandfather who enjoyed hunting and fishing. His life was cut short on the evening of Thursday, February 22, 2018, at a residence on Sinking Springs Road.
That evening, Anderson County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the home around 8:30 p.m.
following a report of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered Bivens deceased in or near the garage area of the residence, having sustained a fatal gunshot wound. Investigators found a. 45-caliber shell casing next to his body.
The investigation quickly pointed to 45-year-old Christopher Lee Roberts, also of Clinton, as the primary suspect. According to witness statements, Bivens and Roberts had been engaged in an argument in the garage. The homeowner told authorities he saw Roberts pull a handgun on Bivens. A struggle for the weapon ensued, and during the altercation, the gun discharged, striking Bivens. Another resident of the home reported hearing the argument followed by a loud noise. In the moments after the shooting, Roberts was reportedly heard saying, 'I just f****d up' and 'I messed up.'
Following the incident, the Anderson County Sheriff's Department sought public assistance in locating Roberts. The search came to an end on Tuesday, February 27, 2018, when investigators arrested him without incident at a relative's home in Clinton. Roberts was taken into custody and charged with criminal homicide. He was subsequently booked into the Anderson County Detention Facility and held without bond.
