Murder Plea

A man who pleaded guilty to fatally shooting a driver in an apparent road rage in 2013 was sentenced to 12 years in prison Thursday in Rutherford County Circuit Court.

Edgar Dominic Covington, 26, of Nashville pleaded guilty to manslaughter of Jackie Warpoole, 47, of Smyrna, who died when shot while driving his car on Interstate 24 near the Almaville Road exit.

Lead Detective Jamin Humphress of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office said Warpoole was found shot on the side of the interstate. The shooting stemmed for a road rage type of situation. Humphress and Detective Steve Craig didn’t have any information or witnesses when they began the investigation. “It was a ‘who done it’ case,” Humphress said. “The investigation showed no known connection between the victim and the defendant.”

They followed leads in several states. The break in the case came when Metro Nashville Police located a firearm. Tests by the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation determined the firearm was used to kill Warpoole.

“We were able to trace the weapon back to Covington,” Humphress said. “After tracing the gun back to Covington, we learned there was an eyewitness in the vehicle with Covington.”

Craig said the eyewitness, who was driving Covington, was a “crucial witness” to the case. The detectives charged Covington with first-degree murder June 24, 2014. “It was an intense six-and-one-half month long investigation,” Craig said. Warpoole’s widow, Angela, and his family attended all of the court hearings. “I know it was a long, hard process for the family and we appreciate their patience and support,” Craig said. “The support and patience of the family was crucial.”

Court Judge David Bragg accepted the plea arrangement worked out between Assistant District Attorney Paul Newman and Covington’s attorney W. Scott Kimberly.

Covington will serve 45 percent of his sentence before being eligible for parole.