Suspect arrested in mass shooting near Tennessee State University

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — The suspected shooters of a mass shooting near Tennessee State University (TSU) that left one person dead and nine others injured were arrested Monday evening.

The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) reports that Marquez Davis and DeAnthony Brown, both 24, are now charged with criminal homicide.

The two were arrested at a short-term rental on 26th Avenue North for Saturday night’s shooting on Jefferson Street, which occurred off-campus during TSU’s homecoming.

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When officers arrested the two, Davis was carrying a gun before being taken into custody. He was convicted in April 2024 of robbery, weapons possession and drug possession.

MNPD says he was sentenced to 10 years probation through the Community Corrections Program.

Prior to the arrests, MNPD reported that five gang members were involved in the mass shooting. According to a news release from MNPD, the five people with “local gang affiliations began shooting at each other indiscriminately.”

One of the five people involved in the shooting was 24-year-old Vonquae Johnson. He died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and two other members of the group were also treated for injuries.

Innocent bystanders who were not directly involved in the shooting are all recovering from non-life-threatening injuries.

“The shooters had no regard for human life and put a lot of innocent people, including children, in extreme danger,” said MNPD Chief Drake. “The entire criminal justice system must treat violent gun crime with the seriousness it deserves and imprison those convicted.”

According to TSU, the shooting did not involve TSU students and did not occur on campus.