Columbia’s former fire chief is suing the city and the city manager, saying he was fired after he called for an investigation into why a civilian armed with an AR-15 was allowed to join law enforcement during a school shooting scare.
COLUMBIA, Tenn. (WKRN) — Columbia’s former fire chief is suing the city and the city manager, saying he was fired after he called for an investigation into why a civilian armed with an AR-15 was allowed to join law enforcement during a school shooting scare.
The lawsuit says the city retaliated against Ty Cobb for using his First Amendment right. The seven-page lawsuit filed in federal court centers around a hoax call at Columbia Central High School and Cobb’s request for the city to investigate a certain civilian’s response to it.
“He was an exemplary citizen who had not gotten in trouble in the past with his job or anything else,” said attorney Robb Bigelow with Bigelow Legal, who represents Cobb.
In May 2023, a caller reported a shooter in the school. It turned out the entire call was a hoax and there was no shooter. However, the story took a twist.
According to Cobb, while authorities were assessing the situation, a civilian named Roy Brooks put on a tactical vest, carried an AR-15, and showed up on school grounds to help them.
Not only was Brooks a former firefighter with prior law enforcement experience, but Cobb knew him. Sources confirmed Brooks had a long career with the Columbia Fire Department, but he was terminated before the school shooting hoax at Columbia Central High.
“He knew the individual, who was a civilian at the time, and he was extremely concerned that there shouldn’t be someone who’s a civilian grabbing an AR-15, jumping in with a SWAT team,” said Bigelow.
Bigelow said that out of concern for public safety, his client wanted Columbia to investigate why Brooks was able to join authorities on a school campus with a semi-automatic weapon.
“He spoke out and asked for help and asked for an investigation, and then ultimately he was retaliated against,” said Bigelow.
The suit states that “in response to Mr. Cobb’s complaints,” the city manager suspended him and placed him on probation, citing “insubordination.” Then, in March 2024, the city manager reportedly fired Cobb for “unacceptable activities.”
“It absolutely turned his world upside down. I mean, this is a man who has dedicated so much of his life and his time to the City of Columbia and to being a member of the fire department, and that’s something that, like I said, he wants to get back doing, and the complaint asks for reinstatement and hopefully that’s something that’ll happen,” said Bigelow.
News 2 contacted Columbia City Manager Tony Massey, who replied via email that he will not be making a public comment because the matter is now in litigation. We also reached out to Brooks’ attorney, but we have yet to hear back.
Brooks was charged with carrying a weapon onto school property following the May 2023 incident. However, in May 2024, the District Attorney told News 2 the case would not be moving forward.