Franklin is one of those places where you just don't expect the yellow tape. It’s a town of historic squares, high-end boutiques, and a vibe that screams "safety." So, when a shooting in Franklin TN hits the scanners, the local Facebook groups go absolutely nuclear. People get scared because this isn't Nashville. We aren't used to it.
But here’s the thing. While Franklin is statistically one of the safest spots in Tennessee, it’s not a bubble. Crimes happen. Recently, a few specific incidents have spiked the search volume for what’s going on in the 615. Most of the time, the "active shooter" rumors you see on X (formerly Twitter) turn out to be isolated beefs or domestic situations that just happened to spill into public view.
The Real Story Behind Recent Shooting in Franklin TN Reports
If you're looking for the most recent major incident that had everyone talking, you have to look at the June 2025 shooting in the parking lot of a local vape shop on West Main Street. It was a Friday night, right around 9:00 PM. That’s a busy time for that area.
An altercation broke out between two guys. One of them, identified by Franklin Police as Charles Crain, allegedly pulled a gun and fired. Thankfully, he missed. But the sound of gunfire in a quiet commercial area like that? It sent people running. Crain was eventually caught and charged with attempted criminal homicide. The bond was set at a staggering $825,000, which tells you how seriously the Williamson County judicial system takes gun violence.
The Lattarius Johnson Homicide
Then there was the February 2025 incident on Valor Court. This one was far more tragic. Officers responded to a "shots fired" call around 6:30 PM and found 32-year-old Lattarius Johnson on the ground. He didn't make it.
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The police were quick to label this as an "isolated incident." In cop-speak, that usually means the victim and the shooter knew each other. It wasn't a random act of violence against the public, but for the residents of that neighborhood, that distinction doesn't always make the sirens sound any quieter.
Why Cool Springs Always Ends Up in the News
When people search for a shooting in Franklin TN, they are often actually looking for info on the Cool Springs area. Because it's a massive retail hub—think the Galleria, the Marriott, and a million restaurants—any police presence there looks like a big deal.
Take the Marriott shooting in late 2023. It was a wedding, for heaven's sake. A guy named Cody Wiggins from Florida allegedly shot his wife and brother-in-law after an argument. It happened at 9:30 PM on a Saturday. Because it was a hotel full of guests, the initial reports were terrifying. People thought it was an active shooter. It wasn't. It was a domestic tragedy in a public place.
The "Not in Our Mall" Strategy
Franklin Police Chief Deb Faulkner doesn't mess around with the retail corridors. They have a specific campaign called "Not in Our Mall." During the 2025 holiday season alone, they made over 75 arrests and recovered several stolen firearms.
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Most "shootings" reported at the mall are actually people seeing a gun during a shoplifting confrontation or a domestic dispute in the parking lot. The police presence there is so heavy that usually, the suspect is in cuffs before the first tweet even goes out.
Statistically Speaking: Is Franklin Actually Dangerous?
Honestly? No. Not even close.
If you look at the data from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting, Franklin’s violent crime rate consistently sits at about 50% lower than the national average. You’ve got a much higher chance of hitting a deer on Hillsboro Road—which, by the way, is a massive problem in November—than you do of being involved in a shooting.
- Violent Crime Rate: Roughly 165 per 100,000 residents (National avg is 367+).
- Property Crime: Higher than violent crime, but still well below regional peers like Nashville or Memphis.
- Clearance Rates: Franklin PD clears violent crimes at a rate of about 58%, which is significantly higher than the national average of 45%.
Basically, if someone shoots a gun in Franklin, they are probably going to jail. Quickly.
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Dealing with the "Active Shooter" Panic
We live in a world where everyone is a citizen journalist. If a car backfires near the Apple Store at Cool Springs, someone is going to post that there’s a shooting in Franklin TN.
The best way to get the truth isn't the "Neighbors" app or a random Facebook group. The Franklin Police Department is actually weirdly good at social media. They post updates on X and their official newsroom site almost in real-time. If there is a legitimate threat to the public, they use the "Reverse 911" system and social media blasts within minutes.
What You Should Actually Do
If you find yourself in a situation where you hear shots or see a heavy police presence in Franklin:
- Check the Source: Go to the official Franklin Police X account or the City of Franklin news page.
- Avoid the Area: Even if it’s just a "shots fired" call with no injuries, the police will shut down roads like West Main or Galleria Blvd for hours to collect shell casings.
- Report, Don't Speculate: If you saw something, call (615) 794-2513. Don't just post a blurry video and guess what happened.
The reality of a shooting in Franklin TN is that it is almost always a targeted, isolated event—usually domestic or a specific dispute between individuals. It doesn't make it any less scary, but it does mean the "random violence" fear that haunts big cities hasn't really taken root here yet.
Stay aware of your surroundings, especially in high-traffic areas like Cool Springs during the holidays. Keep the non-emergency police number in your phone. And maybe take the "active shooter" rumors on social media with a massive grain of salt until the Chief of Police weighs in.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Sign up for Williamson County's Emergency Alerts to get direct notifications on your phone for real public safety threats.
- Follow the Franklin Police Department on X (@FranklinTNPD) for the fastest official updates on local incidents.
- If you have information on any past incidents, contact Crime Stoppers of Williamson County at (615) 794-4000 to submit an anonymous tip.