NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF — A quiet neighborhood in Sumner County is reeling in shock and sadness after a 16-year-old boy was shot and killed late Sunday night in Gallatin.
The incident occurred after the teenager was reportedly confronted while attempting to break into cars in the area, according to the Gallatin Police Department.
Abi Nunley was home when the sound of gunfire got her off her couch. Nunley, who lives nearby, recalled the terrifying moments when she heard at least a dozen gunshots and stepped outside to find her neighborhood transformed into a crime scene.
“I came out on my front porch and saw a group of people running in an apartment complex nearby," Nunley said. "I then noticed a guy running down the road, and as I heard more shots, I saw him fall. I rushed over to him, asking if he was okay, but he didn’t respond.”
The victim, a 16-year-old boy, was struggling to breathe when Nunley found him. She realized he was on the phone as he collapsed in the street.
“I didn’t have my phone with me to call 911, but I heard someone on his phone asking if he was breathing. I checked for a pulse, but there wasn’t one,” she said.
Nunley used the boy’s phone to call 911 and began administering CPR in a desperate attempt to save his life.
According to Gallatin police, the teen was shot after being confronted by Adrian Wilkerson, who allegedly saw the boy breaking into a car in the parking lot of Albright Farms. Gallatin police shared when the teen ran away, Wilkerson opened fire, hitting him as he ran away.
“I heard 10 or 11 shots initially and saw the boy running down the road with his back turned. They kept firing as he was running away,” Nunley said.
The identity of the teenager has not yet been released.
A local lawyer shares that under state law, deadly force is not permitted in response to property crimes, only if there is a direct threat to someone's life or in cases of home invasion.
Wilkerson has been charged with criminal homicide and tampering with evidence.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Gallatin Police Department at 615-452-1313.
Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at kelsey.gibbs@newschannel5.com or Nick Beres at nick.beres@newschannel5.com.
Fostering Hope provides Christmas for kids in foster care. I'm delighted to see Fostering Hope expand this year to expand their reach to now include kids in Foster care in metro AND foster kids in East TN hard hit by Helene.
-Bree Smith
