Shelbyville Man Indicted, Charged in Shelbyville & Nashville Shootings
OCT 28, 2021 | REPUBLISHED BY LIT: JAN 14, 2022
SAMUEL 'SAM' RICH
NASHVILLE – Ongoing casework by special agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has led to 13 felony indictments for a Shelbyville man in connection to two shootings – one of them deadly – earlier this year in Middle Tennessee.
On August 13th, at the request of 17th District Attorney General Robert Carter, TBI special agents began investigating the shooting of a woman in Shelbyville. On August 17th, 20th District Attorney General Glenn Funk requested TBI agents merge the investigation — with the assistance of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department — with one involving the shooting death of 22-year-old James William Warner, of Shelbyville. During the investigation, agents developed information leading to Samuel Earl Rich (DOB 8-9-96) as the person responsible for both crimes.
On Wednesday, the Davidson County Grand Jury returned indictments, charging Rich with three counts of First-Degree Murder, one count of Especially Aggravated Robbery, one count of Felon in Possession of a Weapon, and one count of Theft in relation to Warner’s homicide.
On August 15th, authorities arrested and charged Rich in connection to the Shelbyville shooting, and, this week, a Bedford County Grand Jury returned indictments charging him with seven criminal counts related to the case, including Attempted First-Degree Murder. Today, authorities transferred Rich from the Bedford County Jail to Davidson County and served him with the additional charges, where, at the time of this release, he remained in custody without bond.
Rich charged with Warner murder
OCT 30, 2021 | REPUBLISHED BY LIT: JAN 14, 2022
Case Reassigned to Judge Allegra Walker
Three days after he was indicted on seven felony counts in Bedford County, including a charge of attempted first degree murder, 25-year-old Samuel Rich of Shelbyville was indicted in Nashville on six more counts, including first degree murder for the shooting death of 22-year-old James William Warner.
On Wednesday of this week, a Davidson County grand jury returned six indictments against Rich including three counts of first-degree murder, especially aggravated robbery, felon in possession of a firearm, and theft of Warner’s 2021 Jeep valued at between $10,000 and $60,000.
On Thursday, a charge of driving with a revoked license was added to the list of charges against Rich in Davidson County.
On Monday of this week, Rich was indicted by a Bedford County grand jury on charges related to the shooting of Hannah Grace Perryman in the early morning hours of Aug. 13 at Warner’s residence.
According to the affidavit of complaint, Perryman arrived at the Temple Ford Road residence at 1 a.m. and saw Warner’s Jeep parked there.
She went inside and was confronted by Rich in the master bedroom. It is alleged that Rich shot Perryman in the head and then fled. Perryman survived the attack and was able to call 911 for help.
Warner’s body was found in Nashville on Aug. 13 the same day Rich allegedly shot Perryman in Shelbyville. He had been shot in the head and back several times.
Investigators believe Warner was shot after being brought to Nashville. The Jeep belonging to Warner was found that same day on Smith Chapel Road in the Raus area.
Rich turned himself into police two days later (Aug. 15) in Murfreesboro.
In Bedford County, Samuel Rich is charged with attempted 1st degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony (attempted murder), theft of a 2021 Jeep Cherokee (belonging to Will Warner), aggravated burglary (entering Will Warners home to commit a felony), a second burglary count (for entering the home of Will Warner with intent to commit a felony that resulted in the “serious bodily injury” to the woman he shot), and tampering with evidence (for knowingly destroying or concealing evidence in a criminal case.)
Rich was being held in Davidson County Jail and was scheduled to appear for a case review hearing on Friday before General Sessions Judge Allegra Walker in Davidson County.
Disciplinary Actions
Posted by: BPR Reports on Nov 27, 2008
Journal Issue Date: Dec 2008
Journal Name: December 2008 – Vol. 44, No. 12
Court of the Judiciary
Dad's a Judge, Charles L. Rich
Bedford County General Sessions Judge Charles Rich of Shelbyville received a public letter of reprimand from the Tennessee Court of the Judiciary on Oct. 10 for failing to make findings of fact and continuing to act on a case after recusing himself.
In the first instance, the court found that Rich failed to make findings of fact in a juvenile case, which delayed the complainant’s ability to appeal and resulted in an untimely resolution of issues.
The court determined that failure to make findings violated Rule 28(f)(2) of the Tennessee Rules of Juvenile Procedure and that delaying an appeal violated Canon 3B(8) of the Code of Judicial Conduct.
In the second matter, Rich signed three orders in the case after recusing himself in violation of Canon 3E(1)(a).
The court stated that both actions were detrimental to the administration of justice and brought the judiciary into public disrepute.