Robert Brogden Mt. Juliet TN Death: Inside the Cedar Creek Marina Shooting That Killed Brogden, Matthew Jones & Suspect Gary Haley Jr. – A deadly shooting and police standoff at Cedar Creek Marina in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, has left three men dead, including Robert Brogden, Matthew Jones, and suspected shooter Gary Haley Jr., according to law enforcement officials and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).
The tragic incident occurred late Jan. 30 into the early morning of Jan. 31, 2026, and has deeply affected the local community as investigators continue to piece together the events that unfolded at the scenic marina on Saundersville Road.
According to official information released by the TBI, 52‑year‑old Robert Brogden was among the victims found shot during the initial stages of the confrontation. Police were first alerted to the situation at about 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 30 after receiving reports that an individual was threatening others on the docks of the marina.
Officers began searching the area, and gunfire was heard. Brogden was discovered with a gunshot wound and taken to a local hospital for emergency treatment, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Another victim, 43‑year‑old Matthew Jones, was also found with a fatal gunshot wound during the incident and pronounced dead at the scene. The circumstances of Jones’s presence at the marina during the shooting have not been fully detailed by investigators, who are urging anyone with information to come forward as the official review continues.
Law enforcement identified 45‑year‑old Gary Haley Jr. as the suspected shooter involved in the standoff. After responding, officers located Haley; authorities believed he had taken a position near the end of the marina’s C‑Dock and possibly inside one of the boats.
In the early hours of Jan. 31, Haley allegedly fired on responding officers, prompting five Mt. Juliet Police Department officers to return fire in self‑defense. Haley was later found deceased at the scene.
Officials confirmed that no Mt. Juliet police officers were injured during the confrontation. The Mt. Juliet Police Department’s Special Response Team was activated due to the severity and danger presented by the situation, which was complicated by frigid temperatures and icy conditions on the marina docks at the time.
The TBI is leading an independent investigation into the sequence of events that led up to the shooting and resulting deaths. Once the TBI completes its review, findings will be forwarded to the District Attorney General’s office for further evaluation, including whether charges may be appropriate or if additional details about the interactions and motives can be confirmed.
The tragic loss of Brogden and Jones, along with the death of the suspected shooter, has shaken residents and families in Mt. Juliet. Cedar Creek Marina, typically known as a place for boating and relaxation, became the site of a violent and fatal confrontation that has prompted both law enforcement and community members to reflect on public safety and emergency response in high‑risk situations.
