The Rutherford County Sheriff's Office confirmed the arrest of two suspects in connection with a fatal shooting in Metro Nashville. The incident, which occurred on October 18, tragically ended the life of 17-year-old Ja'Quan Nolan in Forest Park Apartments' parking lot, on Highway 70 South in Bellevue. A post on the sheriff's office Facebook page documented their involvement in the apprehension.
According to a news release from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, the investigation revealed that Nolan's cousin, Marquez Reed, 19, was responsible for the fatal shot while attempting to fire into an apartment. Reed now faces severe charges, including criminal homicide, felony reckless endangerment, and use of a gun in the commission of a dangerous felony. Following an October 24 arrest related to auto burglary, Reed was already in custody in Rutherford County. Other individuals, Malichi Cummins, 21, and a 16-year-old, are also implicated, both charged with attempted murder and felony reckless endangerment for shooting at the apartment, which housed an adult man, an adult woman, and four small children.
The series of events supposedly began with an argument between Nolan and the adult male apartment resident standing on a balcony. The dispute quickly escalated as Reed, Cummins, and the 16-year-old fired multiple rounds. From video evidence and witness accounts, police identified Reed as the shooter who struck Nolan in the back of the head. Cummins was observed removing a gun from Nolan as they fled from the scene. The adult male resident sustained a non-life-threatening graze wound to his chest and was later released from the hospital after treatment.
Both Reed and Cummins were apprehended in Rutherford County on unrelated charges on October 24, and Cummins will be booked into the Metro jail soon. The juvenile involved in this case was arrested in Montgomery County earlier this week and has been booked into Nashville juvenile detention. In a recent brush with the law, Reed was arrested last September in Nashville on multiple charges, including auto theft and gun possession. He pleaded guilty to auto theft and received a two-year probated sentence earlier this year; the other charges were dismissed.
