Arrest made in deadly Greyhound bus shooting in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Metro Homicide detectives continue to investigate three, separate, deadly shootings from June 24 that occurred in downtown and West Nashville.

According to police, the first shooting took place around 10:40 p.m. on Friday, June 24, outside Double Dogs restaurant on Charlotte Pike.

Police said 24-year-old Miles Slay was walking near the intersection of Charlotte Pike and 40th Avenue North when a tan or gray GMC Yukon Denali drove up and opened fire. The shots were fired from the passenger side, then the SUV drove off, turning on 39th Avenue North.

Slay was transported to Vanderbilt Medical Center where he died a short time later. Police are asking anyone who has seen the GMC SUV or has knowledge of the shooting to contact them immediately.

Under an hour later, around 11:30 p.m., officers responded to shooting at the Mapco station on Harding Pike in White Bridge.

Police said 41-year-old Jonathan Distefano was being taken by his family to the hospital for treatment during a mental health episode. They were driving on Harding Pike when Distefano jumped out of the vehicle and charged at oncoming traffic. He jumped onto a moving car, which stopped immediately, causing him to roll onto the street.

The report states that Distefano then ran to the nearby Mapco where 26-year-old Emion Ensley, an employee, was on break in his parked car. Ensley told officers that Distefano tried to get into his vehicle and wanted his keys, so he got out and attempted to flee the situation by going inside the station store. Distefano followed him inside.

Once inside, Ensley repeatedly yelled for Distefano to leave the store. Distefano then noticed Ensley was carrying a pistol and tried to take it away from him, threatening to shoot him with his own gun. While the two wrestled behind the counter, Ensley pulled his pistol and fatally shot Distefano.

Police said no charges have been filed and the District Attorney’s office will determine the self-defense merits of the case.

In a third deadly shooting on June 29, Metro officers were called to the Greyhound bus station on Rep. John Lewis Way around midnight.

Police said 28-year-old Javaris Godfrey fatally shot 23-year-old Jamar Bell, of Nashville, while the bus was stopped at the Nashville terminal. Witnesses told officers the driver was making announcements when they heard a gunshot.

People on the bus said the gunman ran down the aisle, yelling for everyone to get out of his way as he exited the bus. He ran down Rep. John Lewis Way toward Division Street. Passengers on the bus told police they did not notice the men arguing before the shooting.

Bell was travelling from Montgomery, Alabama, according to his bus ticket.

Godfrey is in custody and faces one felony charge of criminal homicide and a possession charge for drug paraphernalia.

Metro homicide detectives continue to look into both the Double Dogs and Greyhound bus station shootings. Godfrey’s motive remains unclear and the search for the people responsible for Slay’s death continues.

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