Recommendations of the Editorial team
After the fatal shooting in the parking lot of Dolly Parton’s Stampede, A suspect has been charged at a dinner attraction in the tourist town of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Evan Cogdill, 24, is charged with involuntary manslaughter, the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office said. Cogdill was taken into custody on Sunday, April 26, one day after he allegedly shot and killed 22-year-old Jacob Inselmann of Steeleville, Illinois. Cogdill is from Marissa, Illinois.
According to the Pigeon Forge Police Department, Cogdill and Inselmann were sitting in a car together outside the Stampede grounds when Cogdill’s gun discharged, striking Inselmann. He was later pronounced dead at LeConte Medical Center. The incident occurred around 7:35 p.m., after which Cogdill called the police. The investigation is ongoing.
Parton’s response pending
Parton’s press team did not immediately respond to a request for comment from ROLLING STONE.
The Stampede operates locations in Pigeon Forge – also home to Dollywood with its 50 rides and attractions – and in Branson, Missouri. The family-friendly event combines a four-course meal of Southern cuisine with a show of musical performances, equestrian skills, acrobatics and more. The Pigeon Forge location opened in 1988 under the name Dixie Stampede and was renamed in 2018.
“When they told me ‘Dixie’ was an offensive term, I thought, Well, I don’t want to offend anyone. This is a business. We’ll just call it ‘The Stampede,'” Parton told Billboard in 2020 about the racist connotations of the word “Dixie” and its connection to the Confederacy. “Once you realize something is a problem, you should fix it. Don’t be an idiot. That’s what I care about. I would never dream of intentionally hurting someone.”
