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A Springfield man has died after being struck in the head by what is believed to be a stray bullet July 4 at Twin Creeks Marina Drive in Franklin County.

The man, John Cobb, 61, of Springfield was in critical condition after suffering the severe head injury. Witnesses at first thought the man had been experiencing a medical emergency that caused him to fall to the ground and hit his head as he walked along Twin Creeks Marina Drive near River Watch Way. However, once he was rushed to the hospital, it was discovered he had been struck by what is believed to be a bullet, possibly fired from a rifle.

Cobb would be on life support before dying from his injuries this week. In a statement, his wife, Michelle Cobb, thanked everyone for their thoughts and prayers, and recounted what happened that day.

“John and I were celebrating the Fourth of July at Tim Ford Lake with family at Twin Peaks Marina in Winchester, TN. There were eight of us walking along the road back to the gated area where we rented a house when John fell to the ground,” Michelle said. “We tried to get a response, and I turned him over. Then I was able to administer CPR until the ambulance arrived. John was life-flighted to Vanderbilt Hospital where he has been on life support since.”

She continued and said she knew John was “instantly taken to heaven” as soon as he was hit, because there was never a response from him.

“However, the fleshly yet faith-filled part of me wanted to believe that he was going to come back to me in the hospital,” she shared in her statement. “I did see movement three different times, and hope was stirred in my heart. However, it was explained to me that the movements were involuntary and something that commonly happens.”

Michelle then shared that she and John had always been radical, faith-believing people because they had experienced many miracles during their 28-year marriage.

“For example, his eye was struck with an object while working on a car, where the color was coming out of his retina, his tire machine blew up. It could have decapitated his head, but right at the moment of the explosion, he turned his head and only injured his finger,” she recounted. “I was hit with a transfer truck and dragged 762 feet, yet did not even break a fingernail. I’ve been through breast cancer twice, and we have our miracle baby Ashlynn when I wasn’t even supposed to be able to get pregnant or carry her full term. Amazing, right?”

Though she hoped for another miracle, Michelle said John was taken off life support Wednesday, July 9, after being considered brain-dead during those last few days.

She then shared that John’s final gift was the donation of his organs to save the lives of others.

“We took our last walk together as he was taken to surgery, donating organs to three people who will have lives that they would never have expected.”

She also shared a letter from the Tennessee Donor Services, which revealed that John’s liver and right kidney went to a 52-year-old man in Virginia, while his lungs went to a 58-year-old man in Tennessee. The Tennessee Donor Services added they were still looking for a recipient for his left kidney.

“John was the most unselfish, giving man I have ever known, and I’m very proud to call him my husband,” Michelle said at the end of her statement. “Again, thank you so much for all of your prayers and love for John and our family. We will miss our vivacious, anointed, full-of-life husband, father, and friend. We are so proud of you, John Cobb! I love you. I love you. I love you.”

The Winchester Police Department is seeking anyone who may have fired a rifle into the air between 9:10 and 9:25 p.m. on July 4 in that area. Anyone with such information should contact Detective Ryan Fuller with the Winchester Police Department at 931-967-3840 or you may report anonymously to Crimestoppers at 931-962-INFO (4636).