‘We cannot accept this as normal’: Lawmakers hope gun reform will take center stage during session after deadly shootings

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Nashville has seen multiple gun-related deaths in October. Among them: a shooting as Tennessee State University (TSU) homecoming celebrations unfolded.

The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) announced the arrests of two suspected shooters involved with Saturday’s deadly Jefferson Street shooting.

Marquez Davis and DeAnthony Brown, both 24, were arrested by detectives with the Specialized Investigations TITANS division, according to a post from the MNPD on X.

Court documents stated that Davis and Brown were identified by security camera footage at a nearby building and an MNPD safety camera trailer in the parking lot where the shooting occurred. Investigators reportedly recognized Brown in the footage due to his “involvement in gang activity.” Additionally, police received “numerous tips” that pointed to Brown and Davis as suspects.

“We come up on the weekend and we have a celebration and we have national celebrities in and people are excited about being in Nashville, and then we have people that’s not even connected to an incident, not even connected to what was going on, create this havoc,” MNPD Chief John Drake said during a press conference Tuesday night.

Lawmakers have already pointed to the next session as a potential turning point to curb violence in the Tennessee, though some have said that the issue is “too important to wait.”

“What an absolute travesty that we continuously find ourselves in this position,” said Senator Heidi Campbell (D) Nashville, during a Mothers over Murder press conference.

Campbell added that she believes that children should be able to walk freely without having to worry about them being shot.

“We run common sense gun regulations every single year and every single year, they get shut down in committee,” Campbell said.

Lawmakers have been advocating for gun reform to take center stage again during the legislative session. On Tuesday, representative Harold Love, a TSU alumnus, gave a respponse to the shooting:

“Homecoming should be a time for joy and reunion, not violence and heartbreak. As a TSU alumnus, my heart breaks for my fellow Tigers. This shooting is just another example of the gun violence that plagues our community. We cannot accept this as normal. In the next session, the state legislature must prioritize gun safety legislation, including secure storage laws, and prioritize a culture of responsible gun ownership. I ask my colleagues to put aside their political differences and work together to make Tennessee safe from gun violence. This problem is simply too important to wait.”

Statement from Love

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