An Easter celebration in Gallatin was marred by violence when gunfire broke out, resulting in two individuals being shot and the subsequent arrest of two suspects, one of whom has known gang affiliations. The Gallatin Police Department responded to the incident at the home of Henry “Skully” Apple, a 66-year-old man with a history of narcotics trafficking and gang ties, on Sunday evening.
Officers dispatched to the South Maple Avenue residence found two victims with gunshot wounds. They were quickly transported to a local hospital for treatment, though their conditions have yet to be publicly released. According to WKRN, the shooting reportedly took place during an Easter egg hunt and party attended by numerous adults and children. The nature of the event, thusly juxtaposed against the violence, echoes a community grappling to simultaneously hold onto the sanctity of tradition and fend off the specter of criminality.
Subsequent to the initial response, 22-year-old Ladavious Williams was arrested in connection to the shooting. With assistance from the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office, authorities located Williams on South Ford Street. WSMV reports describe Williams as a local with confirmed gang ties in addition to a long criminal history. He faces charges including attempted criminal homicide, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon.
Meanwhile, Apple himself now faces charges for drug possession and possessing drug paraphernalia after narcotics were discovered at the scene. The involvement of narcotics and alcohol at the party was confirmed by multiple sources, including FOX17, which highlighted the presence of substances amidst a gathering that included children. This juxtaposition, at once, underscores the perils that can lurk behind the veneer of communal festivity.
The Gallatin Police Department continues its investigation into the incident. They urge anyone with additional information about the shooting to reach out, providing an avenue for community cooperation in the wake of violence that has to shaken the local Easter celebration.
