Two injured in drive-by shooting during funeral service in Bordeaux

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Metro Nashville Police are investigating a drive-by shooting that injured two people attending a funeral service at a church in North Nashville Saturday afternoon.

Nashville Fire crews were called to New Season Church on South Hamilton Road for reports of an ‘active aggressor’ and multiple shots fired. The church was hosting a funeral service at the time of the shooting. Police said more than 25 bullets were fired at a group of people leaving the funeral.

“I was just in shock, thinking this is America, this is really happening,” Ryan Cook said.

Cook said he watched in awe as one tragedy quickly turned into another.

“I was in my bedroom playing my PlayStation with my cousin and my friends when I heard gunshots coming from the church,” Cook said.

The funeral service was for 19-year-old Terriana Johnson who was murdered on Nov. 14 at Watkins Park.

“I walked up to my window, I opened it and look outside, and I hear more gunshots and I see people running away from the church,” Cook said.

Within seconds Cook said he yelled for his mother.

“She walked outside and looked around at what was happening and got on the phone with the police telling them what was going on,” Cook said

As people began to walk out of the church’s front door, before the body was brought out of the building, people in a black Honda Civic, with a temporary tag, drove by and opened fire around 1:40 p.m.

Some of the people who attended the funeral were armed, drew their pistols, and shot back at the car.

“I can’t tell you if it was one or more persons who opened fire, but this was just a brazen shooting these persons had no regard for human life at all, the funeral service was over, the hearse was parked in front, the rear door to the hearse was open and people were coming out of the church when this car comes by, and shots are fires,” Police said.

Two people outside the church were wounded. An 18-year-old woman was shot in the leg and a 25-year-old man was shot in the pelvis. Metro Police said their wounds were not life-threatening.

“I saw an ambulance come by and load a girl into a stretcher, then I saw another ambulance, there were at least three, one was loading a girl into a stretcher that I’m assuming was shot and then another was loading a pregnant lady into one too,” Cook said.

But, while police say everyone is expected to be okay, Cook’s heart still breaks for those hurt in the chaos.

“I just saw these people crying and saying shots fired, they tried to hurt my mom, and I just tried to put myself in their place like what if that were to happen to me,” Cook said.

Johnson’s burial took place later in the afternoon.

Detectives suspect the shooting was the result of a beef between two factions of people. Anyone with information on the black Honda Civic is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.

A Juvenile Court arrest order charging criminal homicide remains outstanding for Alarenta Waters, 17, who is accused of fatally shooting Terriana Johnson. Waters is alleged to have opened fire on a car in which Johnson was riding after Johnson and Waters’ sister was involved in a fight.

Anyone seeing Waters or knowing his whereabouts is also asked to contact Crime Stoppers.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Copyright 2022 WSMV. All rights reserved.