It was about 9:20 AM in the morning of February 13, 1974 when F.B.I. Special Agent Frank Christina entered the Clarksville Police Department. He reported seeing a black male carrying a shotgun walking south on Second Street.

Officer Joe Mixon was working the dispatch center and Officer Kenneth Lee Browning was also present in the CPD office. Both officers left the station in response to the report.

Officer Browning had been with the Clarksville Police Department for about four months, prior to this, he had been with the Dickson, Tennessee Police Department for four years. He was 38 years old.

Officer Joe Mixon had been with the Department for about one year. He was 28 years old at the time of the incident.

Both officers left the department in search of the black male. Officer Browning was driving the patrol car as they approached Second Street in the area of the old employment office and post office. It was here they saw the black male, later identified as Howard Gentry, standing at the intersection of Madison and Third Street.

Officer Browning turned on the patrol car's blue lights and stopped approximately ten feet from Gentry. Officer Browning then stepped out of the car and stood in the street where he ordered Gentry to "freeze". At this point Browning had not drawn his weapon. Gentry pivoted around, pointing the shotgun at Browning and ordered him to get back in his car. Officer Browning managed to get back into the vehicle before Gentry fired four rounds into the car, striking Officer Mixon in the right hand and shoulder and officer Browning in the abdomen.

Officer Browning attempted to drive forward but was unable to do so due to the extent of his injuries. He opened his car door and fell to the pavement. Officer Mixon was able to radio for help and called for an ambulance. He then exited the vehicle, trying to keep Gentry in sight.

By now Gentry had opened fire on other people, hitting two city firemen with shotgun pellets as they ran for cover. He then shot a man who simply walked out of the Royal York Hotel Lobby at the wrong time. Gentry was also in possession of a revolver which he proceeded to fire at the vehicle of a woman as she attempted to back out of the post office parking lot. She was injured by the glass being blown from her window. Witnesses then saw Gentry reload both weapons before heading back towards the location where Officer Browning lay wounded in the street.

Officers Wade Harris, Billy Poor and Larry Thrower arrived on the scene at this point. The officers were trying to position themselves to locate Gentry when he opened fire on them from behind a parked vehicle. Gentry was struck be return fire, but continued firing, striking Officer Harris in his leg. After another exchange of gunfire, it appeared that Gentry was done.

Officer Larry Thrower managed to maneuver until he came upon Gentry and took the shotgun from his hands. Gentry was pronounced dead on arrival at Memorial Hospital. Howard V. Gentry was forty-two years old and described as a loner. Gentry's mother had sought help for her son because of his recent nervous behavior.

Officer Kenneth Browning died on Valentine's Day, February 14, twenty-eight hours after receiving massive abdominal injuries from the shotgun wounds. He was survived by his widow, Cynthia and step-children. According to Police Chief Ira Nunley and Assistant Chief Gracey Farmer, this was the first instance of a Clarksville Police Officer being shot in the line of duty.

It was a tragedy that left Clarksville stunned and the Police Department devastated.