A 15-year-old Nashville girl is in critical but stable condition at Vanderbilt suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest that her 17-year-old boyfriend said occurred during a struggle over his gun.
The victim was approximately 30-weeks pregnant. The child was successfully delivered at Vanderbilt.
The 15-year-old was brought to Skyline Medical Center by her sister and cousin at 11:45 a.m. before being transferred to Vanderbilt. Detectives learned that the victim was in her N. Dupont Avenue apartment bedroom with her boyfriend when the shooting occurred. The boyfriend was identified and contacted. He met detectives at Vanderbilt.
The 17-year-old said the victim became upset because another girl had messaged him. He said they got into an argument, during which, he said, she retrieved a pistol from his jacket. He said the victim was waving the gun around and that he grabbed it to take it away from her. The 17-year-old said during the struggle, the gun fired, striking the victim.
The 17-year-old ultimately told detectives what he did with the gun. It has been recovered.
The 17-year-old is being charged at Juvenile Court tonight with evidence tampering and unlawful gun possession by a minor. Additional charges are pending discussion with the District Attorney's Office.