NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The Metro Nashville Police Department are actively trying to figure out who shot and killed a Nashville father in an alley hours before Father's Day.
Police said an unknown suspect shot 31-year-old Aaron Washington in an alley near 23rd Avenue North and Formosa Street.
Witnesses told police that they heard about five gunshots and then saw Washington running down Formosa Street. He later died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Since January 1 2019, Washington's death is the 24th homicide in Nashville according to MNPD. This number includes non-criminal homicides.
Washington's best friend, Jonathan Patterson, said he learned of the shooting on the news.
"I couldn't believe it, wow I just talked to you. As an overall general person he really had a good heart and his main thing was making sure his family was straight," Patterson said.
Patterson first met Washington in church. He said Washington did have a troubled past but turned his life around when his daughter was born.
"He just not too long ago had a little girl and I think that was the thing that hurts the most. Now you're leaving behind a 4-year-old little girl that doesn't have a dad now. When I look at the entire situation as a whole, a lot of us are grieving," Patterson said.
Patterson said the violence in Nashville is getting out of control.
"It's nothing wrong with how Tennessee is growing, I think it's excellent. It's growing, it's changing, it's doing good. But when you think of in terms of the generation that's growing up, what are you giving them? Different groups are out here trying to make a difference in some kind of shape, form or fashion because you get tired of killings that are close to home," he said.
A candlelight vigil will be held on Wednesday, June 19 at 7 p.m. at Gen. Clinton B. Fisk Park.
