Authorities in rural Tennessee said they found five bodies in two homes Saturday, prompting a massive manhunt for a possibly armed suspect.
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spokesman Josh DeVine said investigators are looking for Michael Cummins, 25, in connection with the slayings in Sumner County. He urged residents to be vigilant and to call 911 if anything seems suspicious.
“We are dealing with a tragic situation that unfolded here in Sumner County,” DeVine said at a news conference Saturday night. “However, the priority at this very moment is in locating a person of interest who we believe may be armed and may be very dangerous.”
Four of the bodies were found in one home, while the fifth victim was found in another home. DeVine said it’s possible that there is a sixth victim hospitalized. The TBI believes the two scenes are related.
Investigators say Cummins may be in the woods nearby, and their “best guess” is that he’s travelling by foot, DeVine said. Authorities have not released any details about the victims. They also have not said what kind of weapon was used.
Sumner County is northeast of Nashville and borders Kentucky. The scenes are near the town of Westmoreland.
“We will be here for what will surely be a long night for many in the law enforcement community,” DeVine said.