A high school teacher was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Thursday morning, March 6, 2025, at Munford High School in Munford, Tennessee, prompting officials to shut down the school for the day.
Samuel Colin Day died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at approximately 6 a.m., according to reports from Fox’s local Florida affiliate, WTVT. The incident occurred in Day’s classroom before students had arrived for the day.
Munford Police confirmed the death on their Facebook page, stating: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, students, and faculty affected by this heartbreaking event. We ask that the community respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time.”
Authorities quickly labeled the situation as an emergency and launched an investigation. The Munford Police Department emphasized that all students in all schools are safe, providing reassurance to concerned parents and community members.
Tipton County Schools Assistant Superintendent Rebekah Byrd told WTVT that the teacher’s death was “an isolated incident,” indicating there was no broader threat to other staff or students. School officials are working with local authorities as the investigation continues.
The Munford Police Department has promised to provide updates to parents, students, and community members as more information becomes available.
This incident occurs against the backdrop of concerning suicide trends in Tennessee. USAFacts reports that Tennessee’s suicide rate in 2022 was 16.7 per 100,000 people, representing a 25.6% increase compared to 20 years earlier. This change is 4.7 percentage points less than the 30.3% increase for the United States during the same period. However, the age-adjusted suicide rate in Tennessee was still 35% higher than the national rate.
Across the United States, suicide remains a significant public health issue. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the age-adjusted suicide rate in the United States increased to 14.0 per 100,000 in 2021 and rose again to 14.2 per 100,000 in 2022.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, with over 49,000 deaths in 2022—approximately one every 11 minutes.
Gender disparities in suicide rates are pronounced, with males dying by suicide at rates four times higher than females. According to the CDC, “Males make up 50% of the population but nearly 80% of suicides.”
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) notes that firearms were the most common method of suicide in 2022, accounting for 54.64% of all suicide deaths in the United States.
Various suicide prevention trainings are available in Tennessee to help address this public health issue. The Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network offers programs such as Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Gatekeeper Training, which teaches participants how to recognize warning signs and refer individuals to help.
The Tennessee Department of Health also promotes Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), which provides comprehensive instruction on suicide intervention and safety planning for caregivers and professionals.
“We want to reach every Tennessean, in every county, and the only way to do so is together,” states the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network on their website. The organization works to eliminate the stigma of suicide through education efforts and events.
In 2007, Tennessee became the first state to pass the Jason Flatt Act, which requires mandatory youth suicide awareness and prevention training for teachers and principals. Under this legislation, educators must receive two hours of youth suicide awareness and prevention education each school year to maintain or renew their teaching licenses.
For those experiencing a mental health crisis, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. People in crisis can call or text 988, chat online at 988lifeline.org, or text the Crisis Text Line at 741741 to connect with trained counselors.
