Tennessee police investigate whether suspect knew 5 victims

WESTMORELAND, Tenn. — Police are investigating whether a suspect captured after an hours-long manhunt knew five people whose bodies were discovered in two homes in rural Tennessee.

Michael Cummins, 25, was taken into custody Saturday night after being shot about a mile away from one of the Sumner County crime scenes, said Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spokesman Josh DeVine.

Police said officers responding to a 911 call from a family member led to the original discovery of four bodies and an injured person at the first home. The injured victim was transported to the hospital with unspecified injuries. The fifth body was found in another home.

The slayings were near the town of Westmoreland. The TBI believes the two scenes are related.

Authorities have not released any details about the victims. They also have not said what kind of weapon was used. DeVine said Sunday he had no additional information.

On Saturday, DeVine said at least one officer fired at Cummins after he emerged from the woods. Cummins is believed to have produced multiple weapons and the situation escalated. He was then taken to a hospital for treatment of what’s believed to be injuries that aren’t life threatening, DeVine said.

None of the responding officers were injured.

TBI’s airplane was able to help authorities spot Cummins on the ground in a creek bed, DeVine said.

A number of law enforcement agencies had been searching for Cummins, saying he could be armed and dangerous.

“The community should hopefully be able to rest a little bit easier tonight, knowing that (Cummins) is in custody tonight,” DeVine said.

TBI is investigating the deaths and the officer-involved shooting, DeVine said.

Sumner County is northeast of Nashville and borders Kentucky.