On a tragic day in Athens, Tennessee, 68-year-old Sandra H. Cooley, a White female, lost her life in a violent workplace incident. The events unfolded on September 22, 2016, at the Thomas & Betts factory where Cooley was a respected supervisor. Known for her kind and generous nature, she was a lifelong resident of Athens and was affectionately called 'Mama Cool' by her co-workers.
The perpetrator was identified as Ricky Swafford, a 45-year-old employee at the factory.
During a meeting with Cooley and another supervisor, 44-year-old James A. Zotter, Swafford became agitated. He briefly left the meeting, only to return with a semi-automatic handgun. He then opened fire, fatally shooting both Cooley and Zotter in the factory offices.
Following the deadly assault on his supervisors, Swafford turned the gun on himself, taking his own life. The incident prompted a large response from law enforcement, including the Athens Police Department, McMinn County Sheriff's Office, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The factory was placed on lockdown as authorities secured the scene. The investigation that followed confirmed that no other employees were physically harmed during the tragic event. The community was left to mourn the loss of Cooley and Zotter, remembered as dedicated individuals, in an act of workplace violence that ended with the death of the suspect and therefore resulted in no arrests or trial.
