Nashville Silver Alert Seeks Kareem Muhammad, 54, Missing Since Tuesday

A Silver Alert is active for a 54-year-old Nashville man who has not been seen since last Tuesday, and investigators say a medical condition could make it difficult for him to find his own way home. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued the alert Friday for Kareem Muhammad, who was reported missing out of Davidson County.

Muhammad was last seen in Nashville on August 18, according to the TBI, and was reported missing from the city soon after. As reported by WSMV, the search for the missing Davidson County man is now underway, with authorities asking the public to stay alert for any sign of him.

What Kareem Muhammad Looks Like

Muhammad is described as standing roughly 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing approximately 162 pounds. He has gray hair and brown eyes, and per the TBI, he was last seen wearing a white shirt and dark-colored pants.

Investigators say Muhammad has a medical condition that may impair his ability to return safely without assistance, per the TBI. Anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts is asked to call the Metro Nashville Police Department at 615-862-8600 or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

Why Silver Alerts Are Not Just for Seniors

Muhammad's age might seem to fall outside the profile most people associate with a Silver Alert, but Tennessee law does not limit the program to older adults. Under Tennessee Code § 38-6-121, the alerts can be issued for missing adults of any age who have a documented case of dementia or an intellectual, developmental, or physical disability that leaves them unable to return to safety unassisted, according to the statute as compiled by Justia Law.

The wandering risk behind many of these cases is well documented. Alzheimer's Tennessee estimates that six out of ten people with cognitive impairments or dementia will wander at some point during their condition, a statistic cited by WBIR in its coverage of the state's alert system.

A System Built Since 2021

Tennessee's Silver Alert program looked very different before July 2021, when the TBI centralized what had been a patchwork of local police department efforts into a single statewide protocol. Since that expansion, the agency has issued more than 500 alerts with a success rate exceeding 90% in safely locating missing vulnerable citizens, per WBIR's reporting.

The TBI's Criminal Intelligence Unit manages these operations out of the Tennessee Fusion Center in Nashville, according to the state agency. That unit also oversees the Missing Persons Clearinghouse, established in 1993, which runs the 1-800-TBI-FIND tip line that the public is being asked to use in Muhammad's case. State guidelines note there is no mandatory waiting period before reporting a missing adult, meaning families and police can act immediately rather than delaying a report.

Technology has also expanded how residents can help. In late 2024, the TBI launched the TBI Find mobile app, which lets users receive region-customized Silver Alerts and build digital CareKits containing medical details and recent photos ahead of an emergency, according to the app's listing on the Apple App Store. Locally, Metro Nashville Police launched its own online portal for missing persons and cold cases in October 2024, giving Davidson County residents a dedicated channel to report tips and track active investigations, per the city's government website.

Part of a Busy Stretch for Middle Tennessee

Muhammad's case is one of several Silver Alerts active across the region this month. Tennessee agencies issued multiple alerts across Middle Tennessee in August, including searches in nearby Clarksville and Gallatin, according to the TBI's active alerts page. Hoodline also reported this week on a Silver Alert for a 69-year-old man in Memphis, underscoring how frequently these searches are unfolding statewide right now.

No further details on Muhammad's condition or possible location had been released as of Friday. Anyone with information is urged to contact MNPD or the TBI using the numbers above.