On a summer evening in Rockwood, Tennessee, the life of 36-year-old Michael Kerley was brought to an abrupt and violent end. On Sunday, July 6, 2025, deputies from the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a residence on George Anna Drive following reports of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered Michael Kerley with a fatal gunshot wound.
Despite the efforts of emergency medical personnel who rendered aid at the scene, Kerley was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the shooting was swiftly undertaken by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, working in conjunction with the local sheriff's office. Their inquiries quickly led them to a suspect, 70-year-old Devin Schillinger. Investigators determined that Schillinger was responsible for the shooting that resulted in Kerley's death. According to reports, the two men had been involved in an argument the night before the fatal incident. On the day of the shooting, it was reported that Kerley was walking across the driveway and was not engaging with, threatening, or speaking to anyone when he was shot in the head.
Following the investigation, Devin Schillinger was taken into custody on the same night as the shooting. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder and booked into the Cumberland County Jail. A bond was set at $1 million. The case is expected to proceed through the criminal court system, where Schillinger will be arraigned and have the opportunity to enter a plea.
