Two dead after murder-suicide at Putnam County birthday party, officials say

PUTNAM COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) – Two Putnam County men died Tuesday evening after an argument broke out during a birthday party, leading to what authorities are describing as a “murder-suicide.”

According to officials, members of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Baxter Police Department responded to reports of a shooting along Walnut Road in the western part of the county on Tuesday, November 5, around 8 p.m.

Officers said they discovered 63-year-old Randall Eldridge and 56-year-old Bobby Andrew “Andy” Phy, both dead with apparent gunshot wounds.

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Upon further investigation, authorities learned that friends and relatives had gathered at the home for an 80th birthday party. During the event, witnesses said Eldridge and Phy got into an argument in the driveway before Phy pulled out a gun, shot Eldridge, then turned and shot himself.

While the investigation is still ongoing, the sheriff’s office reports that a feud between Phy and Eldridge has existed for at least a decade.

Both bodies were sent to the Tennessee Medical Examiner’s office for autopsies, according to law enforcement.

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“The family and relatives celebrating the 80th birthday party are highly respected and upstanding citizens in our community,” said Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris. “This is certainly a sad tragedy for this family and unfortunate that this incident occurred.”

No additional details have been released about Tuesday’s deadly incident.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a prevention network of 161 crisis centers that provides a 24/7 toll-free hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

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