Suspect in West Nashville stabbing fatally shot by deputy in Texas

Some 1,000 miles from Middle Tennessee, law enforcement in rural western Texas on Monday fatally shot a Connecticut man wanted in connection with an attack that left a Nashville man dead and his wife critically wounded.

Peter Alexander Bohning, 34, was shot by a Gaines County (Texas) Sheriff's Office deputy after the officer responded at 7:20 a.m. to a call about a suspicious vehicle behind a business, Metro Nashville Police Department spokesman Don Aaron said.

The vehicle — a gray 2010 Toyota Camry — belonged to Donald Zirkle, 59, and Leigh Ann Zirkle, 58, and was taken from them after they were stabbed at their West Nashville home Friday afternoon, Aaron said.

Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson Sgt. Oscar Villarreal said that when the deputy made contact with Bohning at 1350 U.S. Highway 62-180 in Seminole, Texas, and asked him for identification, Bohning attacked the deputy.

"During the deputy's encounter with Bohning, the deputy was stabbed in the chest and Bohning was shot fatally," Aaron said.

The deputy was flown to an El Paso hospital to be treated for a non life-threatening injury, he said.

Bohning died at a Texas hospital, Nashville police announced at 11:35 a.m. Monday.

Over the weekend, arrest warrants for murder and attempted murder were issued for Bohning in connection with the attack at the Zirkle home.

The shooting came as the hunt for Bohning entered day four. Gaines County is located on the Texas-New Mexico border just north of Midland. It's just over 1,000 miles southwest from Nashville.

Villarreal said Texas Rangers, who are investigating the police shooting in Gaines County, responded to the scene and no additional information was available.

Police said the Zirkles were stabbed outside their home in the 200 block of Cherokee Road off West End Avenue in an apparent armed robbery after Bohning approached them. 

According to a preliminary investigation, the Zirkles were sitting on their back porch when Bohning approached and asked for directions before attacking the couple with a sharp instrument. Leigh Ann Zirkle was able to make it into the house and ran out the front door into the street.

Donald Zirkle died after being transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, police said. Leigh Ann Zirkle remained under treatment at the hospital over the weekend and was able to communicate with detectives.

According to Aaron and a hospital spokeswoman, Leigh Ann Zirkle remained hospitalized in critical condition on Monday morning. 

Donald Zirkle worked as a substitute teacher in Metro Nashville Public Schools, and his wife works for Caterpillar, according to police and school officials.

After the stabbing, Bohning's gray four-door Subaru with a Connecticut license plate was found parked outside the victims' house with its doors left open and showing front-end damage.

His Connecticut family had not spoken with him for several days, Metro police reported. 

Police said they were unaware of any connection between the Zirkles and their assailant.

Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at nalund@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.