NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A 31-year-old man is in the hospital after he was shot three times during a home invasion in West Nashville. A search is underway for two suspects who police said have at least one weapon.
"Someone was screaming call 911," said neighbor and close friend of the family, Elnora Franklin.
The incident happened in broad daylight at 2 p.m. Thursday at a home on 43rd Avenue North.
Officials with Metro Police said 53-year-old Debra Joyce was inside the home when two suspects entered, holding her and two men working on the home at gunpoint. The suspects forced Joyce to lie on top of one of the workers while they ransacked the home.
"For this to happen to my neighbor it's like I wasn't outside to, you know, to look out for her," Franklin said.
Twenty minutes into the home invasion, her nephew, identified as Derek Joyce, came home to find the men inside the home. Police said he struggled with the suspects and was shot three times in the lower body.
Joyce was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he is said to be stable.
"We're all close," said neighbor Kelonda Waddy who called 911 when she heard the screams for help. "I'm panicking because I know him [Derek], because we're good neighbors here so of course I panicked."
Information on the suspects was limited at this time, but police said they were two young men, possibly in their late teens to early 20s and were wearing dark clothing.
Police said the two robbers and the two workers ran from the scene following the shooting. Authorities would like to speak with the workers to see if they could help provide more information in the case.
Anyone with additional information was asked to call Crime Stoppers at 74-CRIME.
