Police searching for suspect accused of knocking 2 men unconscious on Broadway

What This Story Is About

• Metro Nashville Police are seeking the public’s help to identify a suspect who allegedly knocked two men unconscious in random assaults on Broadway last month.

Why It Matters

• The unprovoked assaults left an 80-year-old victim with a brain bleed and fractured ribs, raising safety concerns for the area.

What Happens Next

• Anyone who recognizes the man or has information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Metro Nashville Police are asking for the public’s help identifying a suspect who allegedly punched and knocked two men, 48 and 80 years old, unconscious in random attacks on Broadway.

The separate assaults occurred on Monday, Oct. 12. Surveillance footage captured the suspect walking up to an 80-year-old man and striking him to the ground outside Kid Rock’s Honky Tonk.

Police said the 80-year-old victim woke up at Vanderbilt after spending four days in the ICU, suffering from a brain bleed and fractured ribs.

Earlier that same night, police said the suspect also allegedly knocked a 48-year-old man unconscious as he walked past him on Broadway.

Police noted that neither victim, both from out of state, realized they had been assaulted by another person until days later.

The 48-year-old thought a car or scooter hit him from behind, while the other man thought he hit his head on something, a police spokesperson said.

Local private security guard Josh Phillips said he has had past run-ins with the individual while working security downtown, though he does not know the man’s name.

“He’s assaulted a couple guys on the street while we’ve been bouncers,” Phillips said.

Phillips recounted a previous confrontation where he had to pepper-spray the suspect after the man followed an intoxicated couple.

“It came to a point where he got really aggressive,” Phillips said. “I gave every warning to not have to use my pepper spray. But at a point, you have to do what you gotta do,” he added.

Phillips expressed concern that violence in downtown Nashville damages the city’s reputation with tourists.

“I believe it’s got a lot worse,” Phillips said. “Why, I cannot tell you, but it’s definitely seen an uptick in violent crime.”

Metro Police said no similar random attacks have been reported on Broadway since these incidents on Oct. 12. Anyone who recognizes the suspect is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.