Davidson County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee
End of Watch: Friday, September 22, 1995
Age: 33
Tour of Duty: 7 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 22, 1995
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Deputy Newson was shot and killed while assisting another deputy with an eviction notice. When the suspect answered the door he began to argue with the officers and then retreated into his house.
As the deputies returned to their patrol car to call for backup the suspect opened the door again and opened fire with a shotgun, striking Deputy Newson three times. The other deputy was shot and wounded by one of the shotgun blasts. Neither deputy was wearing a vest at the time.
The 35-year-old suspect was deemed incompetent and sent to a mental institution. In 2006 it was determined he was fit to stand trial. On November 28, 2006, the suspect was convicted of Deputy Newson's murder and sentenced to life in prison. In 2009 the Tennessee Court of Appeals awarded him a new trial, stating that during his first trial the court did not consider his sanity properly. He was released at some point after 2010.
Deputy Newson had been with the agency for7 years. He was survived by his son.
In September 2020, Summer Place was renamed Jerry Newsom Way, where the old Sheriff's Office building was.