In the quiet community of Jamestown, Tennessee, the morning of April 9, 2026, was shattered by an act of violence that claimed the life of 49-year-old Samuel Jennings. Just before 9:00 a.m., deputies from the Fentress County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the 100 block of Whippoorwill Lane following reports of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered Jennings suffering from an apparent gunshot wound; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation quickly focused on a
female suspect who was seen leaving the area. Authorities identified the woman as Jolina Upchurch and a warrant was issued for her arrest on a charge of criminal homicide. Law enforcement officials described Upchurch as a 5'5" blonde woman, possibly wearing a red t-shirt, and warned the public that she should be considered armed and dangerous. The search for Upchurch prompted a request for residents in the vicinity of Whippoorwill Lane, Quail Run, and Crooked Creek to lock their doors and avoid the area.
After a day-long manhunt involving the Fentress County Sheriff's Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Jolina Upchurch was taken into custody at approximately 6:00 p.m. on the evening of the shooting. She has been formally charged with criminal homicide in connection with the death of Samuel Jennings. The investigation into the motive and circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting is ongoing.
