MNPD Surveillance Helped Avert a Likely Confrontation and Gunfire Between Two Groups

Surveillance work Wednesday night by undercover TITANS and Violent Crimes Division detectives is strongly believed to have prevented a confrontation between rival groups and likely gunfire between them.

Detectives had received information concerning the expected confrontation to occur in the area of 2400 Buena Vista Pike involving Javon Kelly, 20, and others. Kelly was free on $35,000 bond in relation to a 2021 aggravated robbery arrest.

Kelly and three other persons were spotted at 2400 Buena Vista Pike and were followed as they left in a red Honda Accord. They were determined to be armed. Detectives attempted to stop the vehicle at Clarksville Pike and West Hamilton Road. It pulled over briefly before fleeing. A ground pursuit was not initiated, as a Tennessee Highway Patrol helicopter was in the area and followed the Honda on I-24 west to Clarksville. THP troopers attempted to stop the car in Montgomery County, but were unsuccessful. It exited I-24 at exit 8 in Clarksville and was involved in a crash. The four occupants bailed from the car and carjacked a nearby pickup truck. Clarksville police and other law enforcement agencies pursued the pickup truck for a short time before the truck crashed while attempting to get onto I-24 east toward Nashville. All four persons were then taken into custody and are charged with carjacking in Montgomery County. They are identified as Javon Kelly, Juan Rodriguez, 19, I’yendaye Byrd, 18, and Armesia Newsom, 18. A total of five guns were recovered, three from the wrecked Honda and two from the pickup truck.

Detectives are in consultation with the United States Attorney’s Office concerning potential federal charges against the four. Rodriquez was convicted of felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in January of this year in Nashville and was given a mostly probated four-year sentence. Byrd was arrested at the age of 16 and charged in Juvenile Court with criminal homicide for a December 31, 2020, fatal shooting. He was on ankle monitoring at the time of his arrest Wednesday night.