Prosecutor Says Armed Citizen Shot College Professor in Self-Defense

In this Bearing Arms article, a Tennessee prosecutor determined that a fatal shooting involving an armed citizen and a college professor was a justified act of self-defense.

• DeKalb County District Attorney Bryant Dunaway ruled the December 2025 shooting legally justified after a months-long investigation
• The armed citizen, Todd Stanton, was driving to work when the professor allegedly appeared in front of his vehicle with a firearm
• Authorities say the woman raised the gun toward Stanton, prompting him to fire multiple shots through his windshield
• Stanton immediately called 911 after the shooting and cooperated with investigators
• The victim, Ashleigh McKinzie, was a 41-year-old associate professor at Middle Tennessee State University with no known connection to Stanton
• Investigators found a loaded handgun near her body along with surveillance-related equipment in her backpack
• Reports cited signs of severe mental distress prior to the incident, including alleged paranoia and erratic behavior
• Toxicology results showed high levels of methamphetamine and amphetamines in her system at the time of death
• The article frames the case as a clear example of lawful self-defense in response to an immediate threat

Read the full story: https://bearingarms.com/camedwards/2026/04/08/prosecutor-says-armed-citizen-shot-college-professor-in-self-defense-n1232155