MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WTVF) — One person is in custody after a shooting in Mt. Juliet Friday night that came in initially to police as calls of an active shooter near Target and Red Robin.
Two off-duty officers were eating at Red Robin, where they had no bulletproof vests on and left their families to come help. Captain Tyler Chandler said they were able to quickly respond to the scene alongside a massive response of on-duty officers.
Chandler said the incident happened after a husband and wife traveled from Smyrna to Mt. Juliet to sell a firearm in the parking lot. They met the person, who they initiated the sale from an online marketplace.
Police said the husband was ambushed by someone who began to shoot at him during the exchange. There was a struggle, and the suspect began shooting at him. He wasn't hit but he went to his vehicle, grabbed a gun, and began to shoot at the suspects.
Chandler said the suspects fled in a vehicle, but a license plate reader captured the license plate. They're working with Nashville police to pursue the suspects. They believe three individuals are involved: one person driving the vehicle, one who acted like was going to buy the firearm, and one who committed the attack.
Red Robin was considered a crime scene because a bullet went through the window. Target was a crime scene because of where the exchange took place.
Police have recovered the SUV involved in the incident and continue to pursue strong leads in the investigation into finding who is responsible.
