A Thursday afternoon shooting incident involving a Hornbeak woman and an off-duty Tennessee Highway Patrol officer remains under investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Kimberly Herr, 25, of Hornbeak sustained a gunshot wound in the incident and was taken to Regional Medical Center in Memphis for treatment, according to John Mehr, the TBI’s Special Agent in Charge for West Tennessee.
She was reported to be in stable condition this morning.
Mehr said it is believed, at this time, that Ms. Herr suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound in an incident that occurred at the residence of Kevin Seaton inside the Hornbeak city limits.
Seaton, 32, is a trooper with the Tennessee Highway Patrol but was off duty at the time of the shooting, the TBI reported.
Mehr said the incident is under investigation today and no specific details can be provided. He confirmed that Ms. Herr was the shooting victim and that the incident involved one of Seaton’s service revolvers. He also identified Ms. Herr and Seaton as former girlfriend and boyfriend but could not elaborate further on what brought them together Thursday afternoon.
Contrary to any rumors circulating in the community, Mehr emphasized that Seaton did not shoot anyone and reiterated that, at this time, authorities believe the shooting to be self-inflicted. He said no charges have been filed.
Mehr said the Obion County Sheriff’s Department initially responded to the shooting, with the TBI's assistance then requested from both the sheriff's office and the local district attorney's office. He said the TBI is working with the sheriff’s office and will gather all of the facts and give the information to the DA’s office, adding that TBI investigators are still awaiting test results and other facts in the case.
The THP has also conducted its own internal investigation, according to Mehr.

Published in The Messenger 9.12.08