Two people were hit by BB pellets fired from a passing vehicle in downtown Nashville around 10:30 p.m., according to police. Both victims suffered minor injuries, were treated at the scene, and did not need to be taken to the hospital. Officers quickly tracked down a suspected vehicle before it left the downtown area and detained two juveniles as detectives continued sorting out what happened.
Pellets Fired on Two Downtown Blocks Minutes Apart
Officers were called to the 400 block of 6th Avenue South and the 500 block of Commerce Street, according to WKRN News 2. The station reports the two victims were struck only minutes apart by BB-style pellets fired from a vehicle carrying several juveniles. Emergency crews treated both people on the spot for minor wounds while Metro police secured the vehicle and began taking statements from those involved.
Detectives Still Working the Case, Tips Welcomed
Metro detectives say their investigation is ongoing and that they have not yet said whether any charges will follow. For tipsters and media, the Metro Nashville Police Department lists 615-862-8600 as a main contact number, and the Metro Nashville Police Department site includes general contact details for investigators. Officers have been told detectives are reviewing surveillance footage and witness accounts as they piece together the timeline of the downtown incidents.
BB and Pellet Guns Are Not Toys
Although often labeled non-lethal, BB and pellet guns can still cause painful welts and other injuries, especially when someone is targeted from a moving car. In 2022, a Nashville couple walking out of a Bellevue movie theater was left with visible welts after being struck by pellets, as reported by News4/WSMV. Officials say shots fired from vehicles are particularly risky because bystanders have little warning and no way to predict where the pellets will land.
Recent Teen Stops Add Context to Downtown Scare
The downtown BB gun incidents arrive on the heels of a run of recent arrests involving teens, traffic stops, and recovered weapons. In a separate June 16 update, the Metro Nashville Police Department described a vehicle investigation that led to multiple teen arrests and the recovery of firearms, and the Metro Nashville Police Department summarized that operation in a public release. In this downtown case, officers say they are thankful the injuries were minor, but they are still asking anyone with information or video to contact investigators to help finalize the sequence of events.
