A fatal incident at Nashville's WeGo bus station left a 16-year-old boy dead as a result of gunfire. The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) has identified the victim as Braden Caldwell, who was critically wounded during what appeared to be a targeted attack, according to WKRN. The suspect, 15-year-old Shamari Bailey, has been arrested and is facing criminal homicide charges.
The confrontation unfolded yesterday afternoon around 4 p.m. at the Elizabeth Duff Transit Center at WeGo Central. A physical altercation between two teenagers escalated quickly to turn violent, resulting in Caldwell being shot twice. He was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Pediatrics where he succumbed to his injuries. In the aftermath of the incident, WeGo announced a temporary closure of all bays at the Upper Level of the station, moving operations to the Lower Level bays, as reported by The Tennessean.
Investigations by MNPD homicide detectives and Specialized Investigations TITANS detectives are ongoing. Bailey was apprehended last night at an apartment complex on University Court, with the arrest being made without incident. Meanwhile, officials continue to review security footage and witness statements, seeking to piece together the sequence of events that to lead to the incident. MNPD told WKRN, "There is about 15,000 people that come in through this station every single day, so security is definitely a main priority for WeGo and the police department."
The shooting is notably the second lethal event at a WeGo station or bus stop within a week. In response to the shooting, MNPD has increased the security presence at the bus station, particularly during evening commute hours, as detailed by WSMV.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the case to call (615) 742-7463.
