16-Year-Old Arrested for Wounding Valet Employee on Music Square West

Specialized Investigations Division detectives have arrested a 16-year-old on a number of serious charges stemming from the December 5 shooting of a valet employee outside the Virgin Hotel on Music Square West. The investigation shows the motive to have been a road rage-related argument.

The shooting occurred at 1:48 p.m. on December 5 as the 26-year-old victim was assisting a patron to a vehicle. As he closed the door and walked away, the driver of a Kia Optima called out to the valet about him being in the roadway. After a brief verbal exchange between the two, the Kia driver pulled a pistol and fired a shot which struck the victim in the left thigh.

Midtown Hills Precinct Officer Drew Chouanard realized that the Kia Optima closely resembled the getaway vehicle involved in a porch pirate package theft and relayed that information to detectives. It panned out, and the 16-year-old was arrested Tuesday night at a North Nashville apartment complex. In his backpack was a semi-automatic pistol with a tan extended magazine. It matched the description of the gun used in the shooting. The pistol was stolen in a November 2022 vehicle burglary on 4th Avenue South.

The 16-year-old is charged at Juvenile Court with attempted criminal homicide, reckless endangerment, gun possession during the commission of a dangerous felony, unlawful gun possession by a juvenile, gun theft, and vandalism.