Thirteenth Judicial District Attorney General Bryant C. Dunaway reports that his office is declining prosecution in the December 2025 shooting death of an MTSU professor.
In the early morning hours of December 4th, 41-year-old Ashleigh McKinzie flagged down a truck on Smithville Highway in DeKalb County. The driver, 27-year-old Todd C. Stanton, was on his way to work when he saw McKinzie, who was dressed in coveralls, in his headlights with her arms raised as she stepped in front of his truck. He stopped and then noticed a gun in her hand as she walked rapidly toward his vehicle. Fearing for his safety he retrieved his own firearm. As McKinzie got closer she reportedly aimed her firearm at Mr. Stanton. That’s when he fired his gun through the windshield of his truck, fatally shooting her.
Stanton called his father and then 911. Mr. Stanton then waited for emergency services to arrive. A surveillance camera from a nearby home captured the incident.
Authorities say that McKinzie had a backpack with her that contained a Stealth Cam vision monocular, multiple flashlights, a home surveillance camera, a portable power station, an MTSU lanyard and multiple keys.
An autopsy on the body of Ashleigh McKinzie found toxic levels of methamphetamine and amphetamine.
The DA’s office is declining any prosecution and has found that Mr. Stanton’s his use of defensive deadly force under the circumstances was legally justified. The investigation is now closed.