Police investigate guard's self-defense claim in fatal East Nashville gas station shooting

A self-defense claim is under investigation after a security guard fatally shot a man at an East Nashville gas station Saturday, police said.

Officers arrived around 11:15 p.m. at a 7-Eleven in the 200 block of Shelby Avenue, the Metro Nashville Police Department said. They found 25-year-old Dominique Williams in the parking lot, who had been shot. He was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he died, police said.

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How the shooting unfolded

Homicide detectives interviewed a security guard that said Williams was asked to leave the store around 20 minutes before the shooting because he was not wearing a shirt or shoes. The guard said Williams continued into the store and took a beer without paying. The guard then tried to knock the beer from his hands and pepper spray him but did not succeed, MNPD said.

Williams returned shortly after and was again asked to leave, the guard told police. He walked toward the guard and threatened to take their gun and use it. The guard fired a single shot as Williams advanced, hitting him in the chest, MNPD said.

No charges have been filed at this time, MNPD said Wednesday.

Find reporter Rachel Wegner at rawegner@tennessean.com or on Twitter @rachelannwegner.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Guard claims self defense in fatal East Nashville gas station shooting