South Nashville Man Arrested in June for a Violent Robbery and Arson at a Nashville Clothing Store Now Charged Federally

Nashvillian Pardrae Gooch, 38, has been charged by a federal grand jury with robbery affecting interstate commerce, using a fire to commit a felony and damaging a building by fire for his actions at a South Nashville Clothing store in May.

According to court documents and other publicly available information, on May 29, 2024, Gooch entered S. Fashion Clothing Store on Nolensville Pike and brutally assaulted the lone female employee, choking her until she lost consciousness, hitting her, and then pushing her into a bathroom in the back of the store. Once in the bathroom, the defendant struggled with the victim over her cell phone, hitting her again. Gooch then stole the employee's phone and car keys and fled in her vehicle. Before leaving the store, he lit a pile of clothes in the bathroom on fire, attempting to burn the store down with the unconscious victim trapped inside.

South Precinct officers and the Nashville Fire Department responded to the store after witnesses called 911. They located the victim, who was then transported by ambulance to a hospital where she was diagnosed with a cranial fracture and other injuries. The Nashville Fire Department successfully extinguished
the fire, but the store remained closed for multiple days due to the damage caused to the building and the store's property.

Gooch was arrested by officers on June 5 at his Haywood Lane residence and charged with especially aggravated robbery, felony vandalism, vehicle theft and aggravated arson.

At the time of this incident, Gooch was on bond for domestic violence related arrests involving two women. Before allegedly committing these crimes, he was arrested 8 days earlier for violating an order of protection.

If convicted on all federal counts, Gooch faces a mandatory minimum of sentence of 15 years and up to 20 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.