On or about January 26, 2021 Amanda Chatman and 2 of her 3 children were tragically killed in a car crash that was the result of a high speed police chase that lasted for over 15 miles. The suspect, Michael Shepherd has a very lengthy criminal record and was borrowing a friends vehicle when he was reported to highway patrol for driving at high speeds exceeding 110 miles per hour and for wreckless driving. Highway patrol attempted to stop him but he sped up which resulted in a 15 miles high speed chase that ended in the City of Cookeville when Shepherd crashed into a vehicle in which Amanda Chatman, 24 of Cookeville, was driving to take her kids to school. Her 2 oldest children, ages 3 and 4, were also in the vehicle. They all died upon impact while Michael Shepherd survived with non-life threatening injuries. Now, under the Tennessee penal code for Vehicular Homicide, he only faces 8-12 years in prison, yet he killed 3 innocent people and put countless others at risk. 

An analysis by the Fine Law Firm and 1Point21 Interactive found that there were 1,699 fatal crashes involving police chases from 2014-2018, killing at least 2,005 people – 1,123 were not the driver of the fleeing vehicle.

This petition is to change that.

I am calling on the Tennessee General Assembly to draft a bill entitled "The Chatman Act," in honor and memory of Amanda Chatman and her children that will outlaw high speed police chases through city streets. The capture of 1 suspect is not worth the life of any innocent person and this act will help save countless others. Already in the US, 80% of states have banned high speed chases through city limits/streets. We need to hold Tennessee and the Highway Patrol to the same standards to help save lives. Especially when the Highway Patrol had over 15 miles to call in backup and set up blocks at all exits. This tragedy could have been prevented.

In addition, this petition is also to call on the Tennessee General Assembly to revise the penal code for Vehicular Homicide and Aggravated Vehicular Homicide to the following guidelines:

1. That a mandatory life sentence be imposed if found guilty or convicted of a vehicular homicide that resulted in the death of 2 or more people

2. That a mandatory life sentence and/or execution be imposed if found guilty or convicted of a vehicular homicide charge that resulted in the death of a minor or child

Please, help spread the word and bring justice to Amanda Chatman and her family by signing this petition so not only her family can be at peace but so many other lives can be saved. Thanks