Humphreys County sheriff says victims were two women and two boys and that investigators see no outside suspect.
WAVERLY, TN — Two women and two children were found dead inside a home on East Little Richland Road during a welfare check Friday morning, prompting a large law enforcement response in this Middle Tennessee community, authorities said.
The Humphreys County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case as a “homicide-type” shooting. Sheriff Chris Davis said all four victims were related and were discovered by deputies who went to the residence for a requested welfare check. Officials emphasized there was no broader threat to the public, indicating they do not believe an outside suspect is at large. Investigators were still documenting the scene Saturday and had not publicly released the names of the victims pending family notification.
Deputies arrived at the home Friday after concerns were raised for the residents’ well-being. Once inside, investigators found the bodies of two adult women and two juvenile males. Davis, who said he knew the family, grew emotional while describing the response and declined to detail what deputies encountered in the house. “We only get one shot at these things,” Davis said. “We’re going to make sure we do the very best we can for our victims.” The sheriff said processing the scene would be methodical, with specialized teams called in to collect evidence and reconstruct how the shooting unfolded.
Authorities have not released ages for the boys or the women and did not identify the person who requested the welfare check. Davis said the victims were all related and that evidence at the home led investigators to treat the case as a homicide investigation while also indicating there was no active risk to neighbors. Officials reiterated that there was no outside suspect, a phrase often used when investigators believe the shooter is among the dead. The sheriff stopped short of labeling the incident a murder-suicide, saying only that the facts will be confirmed by forensics and interviews before any final determination is made public.
The home sits along East Little Richland Road on the edge of Waverly, a city of roughly 4,500 about 65 miles west of Nashville. By midday Friday, patrol vehicles blocked the roadway as crime scene tape went up and detectives worked from the driveway and yard. Traffic detoured around the area while additional units from Humphreys County assisted at the scene. Neighbors said the area is a mix of single-family homes and small farms where most residents know one another. Several residents gathered at a distance as investigators moved in and out of the house, many speaking quietly or embracing as word of the deaths spread.
Officials said autopsies will be used to set the timeline of deaths, establish the exact cause and manner in each case, and help determine who fired the shots. Detectives were canvassing the area for doorbell or security cameras and seeking information about any recent domestic disputes or calls for service at the address. Investigators planned to interview relatives and acquaintances to map the family’s movements in the days leading up to Friday’s welfare check. No firearms recovered from the scene were publicly described, and authorities did not release information about how the house was entered by deputies.
The discovery follows a year of continued attention on domestic violence and family-related shootings across Tennessee, where small communities like Waverly have dealt with tragedy alongside the state’s larger cities. Waverly itself is still known for a 2021 flash flood that devastated parts of the county and killed 20 people, a disaster that reshaped local emergency response and community support networks. Residents and pastors who came by the road Friday said the town’s churches and civic groups would likely organize remembrances and support for surviving family members once authorities release names and funeral plans. Counselors from area schools may also be engaged if the children were enrolled locally, though officials did not confirm which schools they attended.
Investigators expect to spend several days on forensic work, including ballistics and trajectory analysis inside the home, fingerprint and DNA collection, and a review of digital records such as phones and messaging apps if devices are recovered. The medical examiner’s autopsy results are expected to set key investigative benchmarks, including time of death and wound sequencing. The sheriff’s office said it will release the victims’ identities after next-of-kin notifications are completed. As of Saturday, no public court filings had been made and no arrest warrants were sought. Officials said any future briefing would be announced once major findings are confirmed.
Outside the tape, neighbors described the family as quiet and private. A woman who lives a few doors down said deputies were “gentle and patient” as they moved visitors away from the scene. Another resident said the flashing lights drew people from nearby homes, where they stood in small groups and watched investigators work into the afternoon. “It’s heartbreaking,” one neighbor said, asking not to be named out of respect for the family. Davis, speaking softly at times, thanked first responders for their professionalism and said chaplains were available for personnel who needed to talk after leaving the scene.
As of Saturday afternoon, the sheriff’s office remained on scene and said the home would stay secured until all evidence collection is complete. The next formal update is expected after autopsies begin and family notifications are finished. Authorities reiterated there is no broader threat to the community and asked residents to give investigators time and space to do their work.
Author note: Last updated January 3, 2026.