Man Charged for Threat of Mass Violence Against Church in Brentwood

A Nashville man has been arrested and charged with making a threat of mass violence against Brentwood-based Harpeth Hills Church of Christ.

On Thursday, 26-year-old Cory Woods Gamble was arrested by the Metro Nashville Police Department in Spring Hill. Police said that he made threats against the church in Instagram messages to one of his former high school classmates who police are not publicly identifying.

A Spring Hill Police Department spokesperson told the Williamson Scene that SHPD was not involved in the arrest and that Gamble was at some point living with his parents in Spring Hill.

MNPD said in a news release that officers are familiar with Gamble “from prior incidents for displaying concerning behavior towards the church,” as well as towards local schools, adding that “one incident involved him being involuntarily committed.”

According to an affidavit filed in the Davidson County Criminal Court, detectives were notified about the messages on Dec. 3, one day after Gamble allegedly sent the complainant messages including, "I'm balls deep in a gut wrenching fight with Harpeth Hills Church of Christ." Another message stated, “We are going to fuck these mother fuckers up and show them God is love and I'm willing to die for this shit."

Police said the ongoing threats have caused the church to “employ armed security for all events and services at the church changing their standard operating procedures.”

Gamble was booked in the Davidson County jail on a $5,000 bond.