Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-103 (2026)
Reckless endangerment
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a) A person commits an offense who recklessly engages in conduct that places or may place another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury.
- (b)
- (1) Reckless endangerment is a Class A misdemeanor.
- (2) Reckless endangerment committed with a deadly weapon is a Class E felony.
- (3) Reckless endangerment by discharging a firearm or antique firearm into a habitation, as defined under § 39-14-401, is a Class C felony, unless the habitation was unoccupied at the time of the offense, in which event it is a Class D felony.
- (4) Reckless endangerment by discharging a firearm from within a motor vehicle, as defined by § 55-1-103, is a Class C felony.
- (5) In addition to the penalty authorized by this subsection (b), the court shall assess a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00) to be collected as provided in § 55-10-412(b) and distributed as provided in § 55-10-412(c).
Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 505, s 1, eff. 7/1/2021.
Amended by 2019 Tenn. Acts, ch. 279, s 3, eff. 5/2/2019.
Amended by 2013 Tenn. Acts, ch. 154, Secs.s 53, s 54 eff. 7/1/2013.
Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1; 2011 , ch. 409, § 1; 2012, ch. 1048, § 2.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 279
cases (43 in the last 5 years), 1991–2026 · leading case: State v. Cross, 362 S.W.3d 512 (Tenn. 2012).
State v. Cross, 362 S.W.3d 512 (Tenn. 2012). “Cross with reckless endangerment in violation of Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-103 (2006) by putting others, including the two motorists he passed in “no passing” zones on blind curves, in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury.”
State v. Goodwin, 143 S.W.3d 771 (Tenn. 2004). “” Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-103(a) (2003). While it is generally a Class A misdemeanor, it becomes a Class E felony when committed with a deadly weapon.”
State of Tennessee v. Christine Caudle, 388 S.W.3d 273 (Tenn. 2012). “Facts and Procedural History On February 8, 2010, Christine Caudle (the “Defendant”) entered pleas of guilt to reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, see Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-103 (2010), and theft of merchandise over five hundred dollars, see id.”
United States v. Richard Mukes, 980 F.3d 526 (6th Cir. 2020). “Id. (disposed of Oct. 7, 2020). The government has repeatedly and consistently stated that Mukes committed this state felony when he fired four shots into the air and that this state charge served as the predicate felony to justify the enhancement.”
State of Tennessee v. Detrick Cole, 155 S.W.3d 885 (Tenn. 2005). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-103 . Attempted rape is the attempted unlawful sexual penetration of a victim accompanied by force or coercion.”
State v. Alder, 71 S.W.3d 299 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2001). “§ 39-13-103(a) (emphasis added). Reckless endangerment is a Class E felony when it is committed with a deadly weapon.”
State of Tennessee v. Corrin Kathleen Reynolds, 504 S.W.3d 283 (Tenn. 2016). “§ 39-13-103 (2010), and four counts of driving under the influence of an intoxicant, id.”
State v. Moore, 77 S.W.3d 132 (Tenn. 2002). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-103. (1991 Repl.).”
State v. Rush, 50 S.W.3d 424 (Tenn. 2001). “See Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-103(a) (1999). Thus, the offense requires: (1) reckless conduct which (2) places another person in danger of death or serious bodily injury.”
State v. Honeycutt, 54 S.W.3d 762 (Tenn. 2001). “Reckless Endangerment We next compare the elements of reckless endangerment to the elements of aggravated child abuse to determine whether the trial court erred in failing to submit to the jury a lesser-included offense instruction on this offense.”
United States v. Wynn, 579 F.3d 567 (6th Cir. 2009). “2009), when considering whether a conviction under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-103 is a "crime of violence" under the "otherwise" clause, the panel praised the district court's treatment of the PSR: "Although the presentence report, which is the only evidence in the record…”
State v. Fox, 947 S.W.2d 865 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996). “ANALYSIS Reckless endangerment is proscribed in Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-103 (1991 Repl.). The statute provides that: (a) A person commits an offense who recklessly engages in conduct which places or may place another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-103(a) — 94 cases
State v. Cross, 362 S.W.3d 512 (Tenn. 2012). “Cross with reckless endangerment in violation of Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-103 (2006) by putting others, including the two motorists he passed in “no passing” zones on blind curves, in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury.”
State v. Goodwin, 143 S.W.3d 771 (Tenn. 2004). “” Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-103(a) (2003). While it is generally a Class A misdemeanor, it becomes a Class E felony when committed with a deadly weapon.”
State v. Rush, 50 S.W.3d 424 (Tenn. 2001). “See Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-103(a) (1999). Thus, the offense requires: (1) reckless conduct which (2) places another person in danger of death or serious bodily injury.”
State v. Honeycutt, 54 S.W.3d 762 (Tenn. 2001). “Reckless Endangerment We next compare the elements of reckless endangerment to the elements of aggravated child abuse to determine whether the trial court erred in failing to submit to the jury a lesser-included offense instruction on this offense.”
State v. Carson, 950 S.W.2d 951 (Tenn. 1997).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-103(a)(1)(B) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Leo Mays (Tenn. Crim. App. 2010).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-103(a)(1997) — 1 case
State v. Guy William Rush (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-103(a)(2) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Juwan Jaheim Gaines (Tenn. Crim. App. 2025).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-103(a)(2001) — 1 case
State v. Moore, 77 S.W.3d 132 (Tenn. 2002). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-103. (1991 Repl.).”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-103(b) — 25 cases
State v. Goodwin, 143 S.W.3d 771 (Tenn. 2004). “” Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-103(a) (2003). While it is generally a Class A misdemeanor, it becomes a Class E felony when committed with a deadly weapon.”
State v. Alder, 71 S.W.3d 299 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2001). “§ 39-13-103(a) (emphasis added). Reckless endangerment is a Class E felony when it is committed with a deadly weapon.”
State v. Wilson, 924 S.W.2d 648 (Tenn. 1996).
United States v. Deldrick Suggs, 423 F. App'x 501 (6th Cir. 2011).
State of Tennessee v. Korey Bradley (Tenn. Crim. App. 2011).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-103(b)(1) — 4 cases
State of Tennessee v. Richard Alan Hatchel (Tenn. Crim. App. 2015).
State of Tennessee v. Amanda Helena Rogers (Tenn. Crim. App. 2023).
State of Tennessee v. William Rimmel, III (Tenn. 2025).
State of Tennessee v. Phillip Harris (Tenn. Crim. App. 2014).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-103(b)(2) — 13 cases
State of Tennessee v. Lawrence D. Ralph, Jr. (Tenn. Crim. App. 2013).
State of Tennessee v. Walter Lee Hicks, Jr. (Tenn. Crim. App. 2014).
State of Tennessee v. Randall Boaz (Tenn. Crim. App. 2016).
State of Tennessee v. Roger Dale Stewart (Tenn. Crim. App. 2016).
Kevin Lee Johnson v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2017).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-103(b)(3) — 6 cases
State of Tennessee v. Timothy Hutcherson (Tenn. Crim. App. 2023).
State of Tennessee v. Richard Alan Hatchel (Tenn. Crim. App. 2015).
State of Tennessee v. Shundarius Turner (Tenn. Crim. App. 2024).
State of Tennessee v. Dustin William Russell (Tenn. Crim. App. 2024).
State of Tennessee v. Corridirus Qualls a/k/a \Shoota\"" (Tenn. Crim. App. 2025).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-103(b)(5) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Juwan Jaheim Gaines (Tenn. Crim. App. 2025).
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