In Polk County, Tennessee, a tragic incident unfolded on August 22, 2025, when 51-year-old Rhonda Deal allegedly shot and killed her boyfriend, 39-year-old Buell Cody Thomason, at a residence on Grassy Creek Road. Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the scene, where they found Thomason deceased from a gunshot wound to the face, inflicted by a .410 gauge shotgun with slug ammunition.

Following interviews, investigators determined that the shooting stemmed from an argument between Deal and Thomason over Thomason borrowing or taking a bag belonging to another household resident to carry his personal items. A witness reported that the fatal shot was fired approximately 30 minutes after the argument ended. Deal was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and is currently being held at the Polk County Jail, with her bond yet to be determined.