Neighbors hear gunfire from deadly double shooting outside East Nashville school
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A teenager is facing homicide charges following a shooting in the parking lot of an East Nashville middle school that claimed the lives of two other teens.
According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, 18-year-old Rico Doss Jr. was taken into custody at his Bellevue apartment on Friday, Feb. 9 on an outstanding attempted homicide warrant for shooting a 17-year-old last weekend in the Bellshire area during a “marijuana deal gone bad.”
However, authorities said Doss is also being charged with two counts of criminal homicide in connection with a shooting in the Meigs Magnet School parking lot on Thursday, Feb. 8 that killed 16-year-old Takeo Bills of Chapel Hill, and 17-year-old Jalen McAdams of Franklin. Detectives are investigating a drug-related motive for the gunfire.
Officials said Bills and McAdams, traveling together in a white Nissan Altima, pulled into the parking lot, where Doss and another person were waiting in a black Honda Accord. After the Altima parked next to the Honda, Doss and the other individual allegedly got into the backseat of Altima, the two victims were shot, and then Doss and the other person got out of the Altima and sped away in the Honda.
PREVIOUS: 2 dead, 1 charged after apparent targeted shooting in East Nashville school parking lot
Classes continued as normal on Friday at Meigs Magnet School, even though you could see Metro police outside, along with cleaning crews, working to clear the scene of the double homicide, which was a concerning sight for local residents.
“I’m a little shaken by that,” Frank Simmons, who heard Thursday night’s gunfire, told News 2.
SImmons pointed out that the area is surrounded by children: “There’s a Pre-K place across the street. These kids are going to be horrified.”
Simmons said he was inside an apartment with a 9-year-old he helps care for when they heard shots fired around 7 p.m. on Thursday.
“I just heard a ‘boom, boom,’ and all this noise, and it was pretty startling, but it was startling enough to freeze me in my seat,” he recalled.
⏩ Read today’s top stories on wkrn.com
However, Simmons didn’t learn the outcome of the noise until News 2 informed him.
“Whoever did that, I hope you’re caught quickly because you have no soul,” Simmons said.
Thursday night’s incident marks the second double shooting in the span of eight days involving teenagers in the Metro area.
On Wednesday, Jan. 31, police said 18-year-old Gavin R. Dauzart was killed and a 17-year-old was injured in a shootout at a popular Bellevue shopping center. Detectives are also investigating a potential drug-related motive in that shooting.
Deadly teen shootout at Bellevue shopping center frightens employees, customers
Simmons said these circumstances are becoming a regular occurrence in Nashville, pointing out that more laws need to be in place regarding gun control.
“People walking around with guns like they have the right to just pull it and shoot someone, and when you give people that right and not too many laws to help with those gun laws, that’s what you’re going to get. You’re going to get the Wild West,” he explained.
As of Friday afternoon, detectives said they are still trying identify the person who was with Doss at Meigs Magnet School Thursday night.
If you have information about that individual, you are asked to contact Nashville Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and qualify for a cash reward.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
