5 arrested after shots fired at Nashville detective, leading to pursuit in Wilson County

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The chase to capture five suspects who allegedly shot at a Nashville detective ended overnight in Wilson County.

According to the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), an undercover TITANS Unit detective was surveying the area of Howerton Street and North 6th Street around 11 p.m. on Monday, June 24 when a group of people began shooting at him.

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The detective had reportedly gone to the area after developing information that a person involved in a recent shooting was in that vicinity. He initially saw the group of men holding guns in a parking lot off North 6th Street and drove his undercover police car down Howerton Street to turn around to get a better view.

As he did, the men began walking toward the detective’s car and he reported hearing bullets whiz by his vehicle. Police said the suspects fired more than 30 rounds at him before running to a stolen Infiniti Q50 and fleeing from Nashville on I-40 into Wilson County.

Around 20 shell casings were later found scattered across the area. However, the detective was not injured.

After the shooting, officials said the detective radioed information about the fleeing suspects to other MNPD units, including a helicopter crew that was already in the air. The crew then tracked the Infiniti to Golden Bear Gateway and Volunteer Boulevard in Wilson County.

Mt. Juliet police said they were able to place spike strips on the I-40 exit onto Golden Bear Gateway, where the five suspects bailed out of the car and ran into the woods.

With the assistance of the MNPD Canine Unit and Wilson County authorities, the five men were quickly surrounded and taken into custody. The Lebanon Police Department, Wilson County Sheriff’s Office and Tennessee Highway Patrol all assisted.

According to authorities, six guns were tossed from the Infiniti during the chase. The guns recovered included a Glock .40 caliber pistol that had been modified to make it a fully automatic weapon; a Glock 9-millimeter pistol that had been modified to make it fully automatic; two additional Glock 9-millimeter pistols; a Glock 10-millimeter pistol; and a Draco pistol that resembled a short rifle.

One of the nine-millimeter pistols was reported stolen from an SUV parked on West End Avenue last July 17. Another of the 9-millimeter pistols was reported stolen in Louisville, Kentucky.

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The five men arrested were identified as:

• Eric O. Mario, 23, of Sanborn Drive, who is believed to have been the driver
• Ronny I. Edmonds, 19, of Jay Street
• Mahamed M. Muganga, 18, of University Court
• Abraham G. Mario, 19, of Galaxie Drive
• Omar A. Yussuf, 18, of North 6th Street.

All five are charged with multiple crimes, including aggravated assault on a first responder, using guns in the commission of a dangerous felony, auto theft, gun theft, felony marijuana possession, and evading arrest.

The police department plans to confer with the United States Attorney’s Office about potential federal prosecution of the five suspects. No other information was immediately released.

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