Randy Howard’s Death at Hands of Bounty Hunter Ruled a Homicide

Randy Howard, a major label recording artist best known for his humorous and explicit anthem “All American Redneck,” was shot and killed in his home in Lynchburg, Tennessee on June 9th, 2015 after bounty hunters from ‘A’ Plus Bail Bonding in Dunlap, TN entered his residence through the back door to serve a warrant. A gunfight ensued and Randy Howard was shot in the chest, eventually dying from the would.

The autopsy report for Randy Howard has just been released, and concludes that Howard’s death was a homicide, meaning he died from the gunshot would. According to sources, Howard believed the bounty hunters were burglars, and when they entered his bedroom, he fired a shot at them, wounding one of the bounty hunters named Jackie Shell. The bounty hunters returned fire with six shots, including the one that struck Randy Howard in the chest. According to the autopsy report, the bullet also damaged Howard’s liver. Randy died at Vanderbilt Hospital five hours after the incident. He remained lucid when police and paramedics arrived, and told authorities he believed the bounty hunters were intruders.

READ: New Details Emerge in the Shooting Death of Outlaw Country Artist Randy Howard

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is handling the case, and told Saving Country Music Thursday (9-2) that the findings of the investigation had been turned over to the District Attorney General’s office for further review and consideration. At the moment, no charges have been filed in the case. As for if any other further action will be taken, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spokesman Josh DeVine says, “At this point, I’m not in a position to discuss specific findings of this still ongoing investigation.”

The warrant the bounty hunters were serving stemmed from a traffic stop on September 26th, 2014. Randy was charged with 4th offense DUI, possession of a firearm while intoxicated, and two other charges. However the blood test for Randy later determined the singer was below the legal blood alcohol limit at the time of the arrest.

Randy Howard released two major label records, All American Redneck for Warner Bros. in 1983, and the self-titled Randy Howard for Atlantic in 1988. He released seven records overall. As a performer, Howard shared the stage with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Charlie Daniels, Hank Williams Jr., and many others. Later in life he might have been best known for penning songs for Hank Williams III, including the 3rd generation country star’s “I Don’t Know” off of his debut album Risin’ Outlaw, and “My Drinking Problem” from Hank3’s opus Straight to Hell.

“It’s bad that this had to happen, but you try to look for some good in things. He’s reaching people, he’s touching people even now. You have to get your strength from that,” long time friend of Randy Howard named Tammy Brown said in June.

Saving Country Music will continue to follow this story as more information is made available.