A midday burst of gunfire inside the James A. Cayce public housing complex in East Nashville ended with one man shot in the leg and now facing a slate of felony charges, after detectives pieced together surveillance footage, shell casings, and hospital records. Investigators say the shootout unfolded on April 14 at about 2:36 p.m. along the 500 block of South 6th Street.
What investigators say
According to surveillance footage and court documents, 34-year-old Robert Noel pulled up to the scene in a white Dodge Avenger, then sprinted toward a black Dodge Charger and opened fire, as reported by WKRN News 2. Investigators say the driver of the Charger shot back while speeding away from the area.
Detectives recovered four 9mm shell casings in the spot where Noel was allegedly standing and another 14 shell casings from a different firearm near where the Charger had been, according to the same court paperwork. Not long after, investigators say Noel showed up at a hospital with a gunshot wound to the leg.
Detectives later found the white Avenger at his mother’s residence, with blood reportedly visible inside the vehicle. Officers also documented bullet defects in the Charger’s driver-side door, authorities say.
Court records show Noel is charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, felony reckless endangerment, felony firearm possession, and felony false reporting. His bond has been set at $125,000.
Legal context
Each of those charges is a felony under Tennessee law and can bring heavy penalties upon conviction. State law also treats it as a separate crime for a person with prior felony convictions to possess a firearm, as outlined in the Tennessee Code. Prosecutors will move the case through Davidson County Criminal Court, where filings, hearing dates, and any plea negotiations will become part of the public record.
Cayce Homes context
The James A. Cayce public housing complex has been the backdrop for multiple shooting investigations this year, keeping residents on edge and police busy. The Metro Nashville Police Department has previously issued public updates on exchanges of gunfire in and around Cayce Homes, underscoring the ongoing public safety concerns in the neighborhood.
Why now
Prosecutors have now shifted from the investigative phase to filing formal charges and securing a bond decision, which is why the April 14 gunfire is back in the spotlight. The latest court paperwork and reporting clarify the sequence of events and the exact counts Noel is facing, according to WKRN News 2. No additional arrests have been reported in connection with the incident.
