At 7:15 am, Franklin Police were summoned to NHC Cool Springs to investigate a suspicious device. Officers quickly determined that a bomb was placed in an employee’s vehicle and discovered when she was attempting to leave work. The device was sophisticated and would have caused extreme injury or death if it had detonated as intended. Franklin Police have obtained a criminal warrant for the arrest of the man initially considered a strong person of interest. Mitchell Hunter Oakes is now wanted by Franklin Police for Attempted First Degree Murder. The ATF has obtained Federal warrants for Oakes, for Unlawful Possession of an Explosive Device, and Being a Convicted Felon in Possession of a Weapon. The components of the bomb Oakes is suspected of placing will be analyzed by the ATF at their Atlanta lab.

Oakes, 41, is 6’3”, 240 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. His location is currently unknown, but he may be driving a white sedan. Oakes has ties to Franklin, Crossville, Pikeville, and Cookeville, and an intensive search for him, by Franklin Police and federal authorities, is underway. Oakes is a convicted felon with a violent history and extensive knowledge of bomb making and weapons. Oakes is considered armed and dangerous. He is currently wanted on unrelated felony charges out of Virginia.

If you see Mitchell Oakes, call 9-1-1
Franklin Police and the ATF are offering a reward
of up to $7,500 for information leading police to his whereabouts.
Call (615) 794-2513 if you know where he is