Capturing at Greg Locke’s home sparked by ‘beef’ with stepson

By Leonardo Blair, Senior Reporter Thursday, January 15, 2026

A 2024 taking pictures on the former residence of controversial Tennessee Pastor Greg Locke, which pressured him to relocate, was sparked by a “beef” between the shooter and his 17-year-old stepson and was not an assault on the pastor or his ministry, in line with the Wilson County District Legal professional’s Workplace.

“This had nothing to do with Greg Locke, besides he owned the home the place it [shooting] occurred. It wasn’t retribution for something he did. It had nothing to do along with his teachings,” Wilson County Assistant District Legal professional Tammy Meade advised The Christian Put up on Thursday.

“I’ve among the greatest investigators within the nation that labored this case. There isn’t any doubt in my thoughts, and I have been doing this for 30 years, that this had nothing to do with that church. It was between the juvenile and one among his buddies. It was a beef between younger males.”

Tyler Poole, 21, of Hermitage, pleaded responsible on Monday to at least one rely of aggravated assault and two counts of reckless endangerment associated to the Sept. 3, 2024, taking pictures at Locke’s former residence situated at 1729 Chandler Street, Mt. Juliet.

Poole reportedly blasted the outspoken pastor’s residence with greater than 60 gunshots. He was sentenced to 5 years in jail on the aggravated assault cost, plus two years every for the reckless endangerment fees. Officers advised The Tennessean that Poole has acquired time served for the multiple 12 months he has been in jail.

Locke, who leads the World Imaginative and prescient Bible Church, which was relocated from Mt. Juliet to Lebanon, beforehand acknowledged that he believes the Lord slowed his household down whereas they have been driving residence from Pigeon Forge on the night time of the taking pictures and painted Poole as a “madman.”

In a press release to The Christian Put up, Locke stated he by no means claimed that the taking pictures was in retaliation for his beliefs or preaching.

“It was my household and our residence, so it had every little thing to do with me. I’ve by no means claimed it was over my preaching. I stated, and nonetheless say, if you’re making the satan offended, he fights you,” Locke stated. “My children might have died, so the WHY means completely nothing to me. It solely means one thing to critics and liars searching for quarter-hour of fame.”

“Folks use tragedy to manufacture a story that makes them appear credible,” Locke added. “The Lord will reward them in line with their phrases. Once I made the put up the night time it befell, everybody was nonetheless in shock and had no thought what was taking place. Anybody who has that many bullets riddle their residence and private car won’t ever recover from it. We’ve forgiven the younger man and plan on visiting him in jail very quickly. We want him nothing however one of the best. All of us have made dumb selections, and people selections can both destroy us or outline us.”

The Wilson County Sheriff’s Workplace Capt. Scott Moore advised The Tennessean on the time that when deputies responded to Locke’s residence at round 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 3, they discovered 30 to 40 shell casings round the home, the storage and a car.

Following the taking pictures, Locke stated investigators suggested him to not return to the house.

“We’ve not been allowed to be again at our home since then, and apart from packing stuff up, we’re not going again anyhow,” Locke advised his congregation in September 2024. “They advised us that they concern retaliation at this second.”

Simply days after the taking pictures, Locke addressed hypothesis in regards to the cause for the taking pictures on-line, however did not beforehand clarified that the taking pictures was associated to a dispute between his stepson and Poole.

“When the taking pictures occurred within the subsequent days, I’ve actually tried to remain out of the media limelight due to it.  As a result of it is a severe scenario. It is not one thing you wish to simply glorify and speak about each 5 seconds of your life, but it surely’s fascinating how many individuals on-line, perhaps even some good, honest of us, … noticed these movies [and said] ‘Effectively, you understand what, this was a warning to World Imaginative and prescient,’” Locke stated.

He later in contrast the taking pictures to the persecution of the apostles within the Bible.

“This was a warning to Greg Locke. It is a warning to his household as a result of God allowed this to occur to deliver forth parts of disobedience. And I am like, ‘OK, …. let me ask you a query. You going to say that in regards to the apostles and the disciples?’” Locke requested. “That each one of them have been ultimately assassinated besides John. They boiled him in rooster grease.  I imagine I might take the assassination over that, however he did write 22 chapters of the E-book of Revelation, reward God, when his physique was utterly boiled over in that grease.”