NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Police say a woman was assaulted by a man beneath an interstate bridge near the Gulch in Nashville.
Metro Nashville Police Department Sex Crimes detectives 31-year-old Christopher Wheeler, who is homeless, with aggravated rape and aggravated assault for allegedly assaulting a 50-year old woman, who is also homeless.
The attack happened Wednesday under the I-40 overpass near 6th Avenue South and Mulberry Street.
A passerby called 9-1-1, saying they heard a woman screaming. The caller also reported seeing Wheeler running from underneath the bridge just before the woman walked away with obvious injuries to her face.
The victim told police Wheeler grabbed her as she was walking northbound on 6th Avenue South and forced her to walk to the underpass where he punched and choked her until she was unconsciousness. She says when she woke up she found him sexually assaulting her.
She was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for treatment.
Police took Wheeler into custody at the Greyhound Bus station, 705 5th Avenue South. He had a bus ticket to Dallas, Texas. During an interview, Wheeler admitted that he punched the victim and ran from the area when she screamed. He said he moved to Nashville from Texas in 2018.
Wheeler was taken into custody at the Greyhound Bus station, 705 5th Avenue South. He was in possession of a bus ticket to Dallas, Texas. He was charged with aggravated rape and aggravated assault.
Wheeler received a misdemeanor citation in October of 2018 for vandalism for reportedly kicking and damaging the door to the Nashville Rescue Mission, 639 Lafayette Street, after he was told he could not enter until 4:30 a.m.
