MADISON, Tenn. – Police have released the identity of a teenager found dead behind an apartment complex in Madison. He was identified as 15-year-old Kenneth Auton Jones.
Jones was found behind the Forrest Park Apartments at 400 Forest Park Road.
Officials with the Metro Nashville Police Department said several calls were made to 911 emergency dispatchers, starting around 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Each call was an open line with no communication between the caller and dispatch.
Those calls were believed to be from Jones.
During the last call, dispatchers were able to stay on the line, allowing police to locate where the call was being made. Officers found Jones in a wooded area and discovered he had been shot.
Police had to rely on cell phone tracking software to find out exactly where the 911 call was coming from.
"With a 911 call, normally someone's telling us where the crime scene is, but this one dispatch had to lead us to the area," said Sergeant Chris Steele.
Neighbors told police on the scene they heard gunshots earlier in the evening.
"Madison is actually a quiet area, but seeing this is terrifying when you have kids," said Quentin Perry.
The incident remained under investigation. Police were on the scene, working to find and collect any evidence that might help them determine exactly what happened and who was responsible.
Investigators said shell casings were found across the area, but it was unclear if all of them were related to the case.
No suspects were in custody, but police were pursuing leads.
Hunters Lane High School Principal, Dr. Sue Kessler said in a statement, “I am saddened at the loss of Kenneth. He just completed his freshman year at Hunters Lane and was an articulate young man with a bright smile. We will miss him.”
Anyone with information has been asked to call Crime Stoppers at 615-74-CRIME (615-742-7463).
