A Sunday trip to a Nashville playground turned tense when police say a man fired multiple shots near children, then sprinted into a nearby apartment building before officers cornered him and made an arrest.
Police: Six shots, kids nearby, suspect flees into apartment
Officers on patrol near 11th Avenue South and Edgehill Avenue reported hearing about six gunshots and quickly started searching for the source. According to investigators, an officer spotted a shirtless man running away from the playground while firing a pistol. The man then ran into an apartment building at 1318 11th Ave. S.
Police say officers set up a perimeter around the building and used a PA system to order everyone inside to come out. The suspect was detained a short time later, as reported by WSMV.
What officers say they found inside
The man was identified as Lacharlerrcus Deshawn McWilliams. According to the arrest affidavit, “After the shooting, McWilliams said he returned to his apartment and placed the gun inside.”
Officers searched the apartment and recovered two pistols. Police say one matched the description of the weapon used in the incident and had multiple rounds missing, with a round still in the chamber. Investigators also reported finding a folded dollar bill that contained a white powdery substance.
The affidavit states that McWilliams has a prior domestic-violence conviction. He was booked on multiple counts, including four counts of reckless endangerment and weapon possession with a domestic-violence conviction, and was held on a $46,000 bond, according to WSMV.
Playground scare and how police track gun incidents
The shots were fired near a playground where four children had been playing, according to the affidavit, prompting a swift response from nearby officers.
The Metro Nashville Police Department maintains online tools, including a gunshot-injuries map and a daily booking list, that track shootings and arrests as investigations move forward. For more information, the department directs the public to its newsroom and data pages: Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.
Why the prior conviction matters
Because the affidavit cites a prior domestic-violence conviction, the case comes with added legal stakes. Under 18 U.S.C. a7 922(g)(9), a person convicted of a qualifying misdemeanor domestic-violence offense is generally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. Violating that federal prohibition can result in federal charges and significant penalties, in addition to the state charges already pending in this case. For background on the statute and related definitions, see the Legal Information Institute.
Police say the case remains under investigation, and they have not released details about a possible motive or whether anyone was injured. Anyone with information is asked to contact Metro Nashville Police at 615-862-8600 or use the department’s online reporting tools. Officials say updates will be posted on the department’s newsroom page: Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.
