A second teenager has been arrested in the fatal shooting of a DoorDash driver who was ambushed in a parking lot at Birchstone Village Apartments in Madison last month. Metro Nashville Police say 16-year-old De’Nylen Montgomery now faces the same charges as a 16-year-old boy arrested earlier, as investigators continue piecing together what led to the gunfire that killed one brother and wounded another.
The Metro Nashville Police Department announced the latest arrest Friday, saying Montgomery was taken into custody in connection with the fatal shooting, according to WSMV. He is charged with criminal homicide, attempted criminal homicide and engaging in a criminal conspiracy, the station reports. Police had previously arrested 16-year-old Chad T. Wright at his Nashville school, and he faces the same set of charges, per the same report.
Wright's arrest was also confirmed by NewsChannel 5, which reported he was booked on charges of criminal homicide, attempted criminal homicide and criminal conspiracy. NewsChannel 5 and WSMV reported the arrests before WKRN News 2's Nov. 1 coverage, marking a break in a case that had gone unsolved for more than two weeks.
Gunfire Erupted as Brothers Sat in Their Car
The shooting happened around 7:45 p.m. on Oct. 15 in the parking lot of Birchstone Village Apartments on North Dupont Avenue, according to Fox 17. The outlet reported that the victims were sitting inside a black Infiniti sedan when someone walked up and started shooting at them. Investigators told WSMV that multiple people approached the brothers' vehicle before opening fire, and that the two had been making DoorDash deliveries in Madison at the time, per NewsChannel 5's reporting.
Local outlets have reported conflicting details about the man who was killed. The Tennessean identified him as 21-year-old John J. Diaz, while Fox 17 similarly reported he was a 21-year-old named John J. Diaz. NewsChannel 5, however, reported the victim was 22-year-old John Diaz, and Law & Crime identified him as John Diaz Santos, also 22. The outlets agree that his younger brother, age 14, was also shot and wounded in the same attack.
Robbery Motive Still Under Investigation
Detectives have not determined a motive but are weighing whether robbery played a role in the ambush. WSMV reports that the investigation remains ongoing, and a possible robbery motive is being considered. NewsChannel 5 similarly reported that detectives are looking into whether robbery may have been a motive, though neither outlet has said investigators have reached a conclusion.
No further details on a court date or bond status for either teen have been released. Police have described the case as active, and it remains unclear how many people in total may have been involved in the attack beyond the two teenagers now facing charges.
