Metro Nashville police say a 20-year-old man and four juvenile boys were arrested Tuesday after a 16-year-old was beaten and robbed near Opry Mills Mall, then watched his attackers bolt across Briley Parkway.
Officers were called to the Opry Mills area on June 30 after the teen reported he had been jumped and stripped of his cellphone and shoes, according to WKRN. Investigators identified the adult suspect as 20-year-old Isaiah McColley, who is charged with robbery, evading arrest, disorderly conduct and contributing to the delinquency of minors. The four boys, three 14-year-olds and a 13-year-old, were taken into custody and their cases were routed to juvenile court.
Police said the confrontation started when someone in the group believed the 16-year-old had "looked at them wrong," according to the Metro Nashville Police Department. WSMV reported that McColley was previously arrested in December 2025 on an attempted-murder charge tied to a Sept. 5, 2024 shooting in Antioch that left a 17-year-old girl critically injured. Detectives said they tracked the group as they ran from the mall area and across Briley Parkway before taking them into custody.
How the cases will move through court
The four juveniles are being handled in juvenile court, which focuses on rehabilitation and confidential proceedings, although Tennessee law allows judges to transfer minors to adult criminal court in certain violent cases, a process shaped by recent legislative changes. The Tennessee General Assembly's docket shows bills altering transfer rules, and the District Attorney’s media archive notes shifts in local violent-crime trends as prosecutors and police adjust strategies. McColley, as an adult, will face the charges in criminal court while the juveniles' matters proceed through juvenile channels.
Police say the investigation remains active and have not yet released bond or court-date information for McColley or the juveniles. WKRN reported officers were continuing to gather evidence and that anyone with information should contact Metro Nashville police.
