Initial court appearance set for suspect in Rock Bridge High School employee’s shooting death

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An Illinois man accused of killing his father -- an employee of Columbia Public Schools -- at a Tennessee rest area was set to make his first court appearance Tuesday.

Micah McElmurry is scheduled to appear in a Marion County, Tennessee courtroom on a charge of criminal homicide in the deadly shooting Friday of Mike Woods, 55, a home school communicator at Rock Bridge High School.

A bond hearing is set for Wednesday. McElmurry is being held without bond in the Marion County jail.

Investigators have not released details about the shooting, including a motive.

Hundreds of people attended a vigil Monday held in Woods' honor at Rock Bridge High School. Students described him as a mentor and father figure.

Woods began his career at Rock Bridge High school in August of 1994.

Throughout his time there he was a classroom aide, instructional aide and a special education teacher.

He most recently became the school's home school communicator in 2017.

In that role, he helped support positive relationships between students, families and the school.

He helped create successful transitions for students from middle school to high school.

ABC 17 news did reach out to the Marion County Sheriff Department for more details but have not heard back.

Check back for updates to this developing story.