Cheatham Sheriff: Beth Plant 'was closing in on the deputy,' before he shot

Cheatham County Sheriff Mike Breedlove has taken to social media in support of two deputies that engaged in separate officer-involved shootings during the last two weeks.

The most recent shooting, which occurred during the early morning hours Saturday, resulted in the death of a 51-year-old woman, later identified as the mother of World Champion Boxer Caleb Plant, a Nashville native who grew up in Ashland City.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is looking into the case, and when reached for comment over the weekend, Breedlove referred all questions to them, citing the pending investigation.

But, he took to Facebook late Sunday to express his thoughts.

TBI: Beth Plant pulled knife from backpack in ambulance

“She was being transported by county EMS when something went terribly wrong,” the sheriff wrote in his post, titled, “SHERIFF’S MOMENT: THE LAST TWO WEEKS.” 

Beth Plant had become combative and pulled a knife from her backpack while she was inside the ambulance, according to a TBI news release issued Saturday.

She was outside and “brandished the knife at the deputy,” when he arrived on the scene, the TBI release said. 

“He (the deputy) saw her coming toward them while the life savers were trying to take cover behind him,” Breedlove writes in the post. “Violence started in the back of the ambulance and continued outside with her long knife in hand.

“She was closing in on the deputy with the sharp instrument. Her threat to them was measured in microseconds and as the deputy screamed many times for her to stop and drop it, she kept coming.”

The deputy fired at Beth Plant, who was transported to a Nashville hospital, where she died.

Caleb Plant won the International Boxing Federation super middleweight championship on Jan. 13 in Los Angeles by a unanimous decision victory over Jose Uzcategui. 

Caleb Plant, who now resides in Las Vegas, could not be reached for comment.

On his Facebook page, Plant posted a message that began: "Love you forever and always momma. You always said 'work hard bubba' and I did."

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'It's easy to second guess'

In the hours that followed, many people were asking why, the sheriff said.

“It’s easy to second guess an officer’s decision when you have hours, days and months to study, scrutinize and opine from the couch,” he wrote. “It’s another when you're out there in the darkness as screams, blood and weapons enter into the mix. 

“Your seconds are cut to an instant, a not-so-slow-motion decision and training subconsciously kicks in.”

The Plant shooting is the second officer-involved shooting in recent weeks for the Cheatham County Sheriff’s Office.

TBI agents also responded to a shooting on Feb. 28 near Old Clarksville Pike and Red Binkley Road. The suspect, who apparently attempted to hit a deputy with his vehicle, sustained a non-life-threatening injury.

In his post, Breedlove explains what it was like responding to that scene and seeing his deputy. 

“He was a mess and emotional,” Breedlove said. Later, he adds, “No Cheatham law enforcement officer or deputy wants to take a life. It’s the worst experience ever.”

CHEATHAM COUNTY SHOOTING:Mother of world boxing champion killed in officer-involved shooting

CALEB PLANT:Tennessee boxer fights for his daughter's memory

CALEB PLANT:Boxing champion Caleb 'Sweethands' Plant returns home to Ashland City

Reach Nicole Young at 615-306-3570 or nyoung@tennessean.com.