NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A fatal shooting investigation closed all northbound lanes of Interstate 65 near mile marker 80 on Tuesday afternoon, causing significant traffic delays. The incident, which unfolded as part of an attempted robbery, led to the death of one individual and the arrest of another.
According to the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), the altercation began around 2 p.m. in the parking lot of The Mall at Green Hills. A shopper, carrying high-end shopping bags, was confronted by two individuals in a Tesla. The suspects allegedly targeted the shopper for a robbery, with 30-year-old Omari Moore emerging from the vehicle, armed with a pistol equipped with an extended magazine.
As Moore attempted to rob the shopper, a struggle ensued. The shopper reportedly resisted, and during the confrontation, the passenger in the Tesla grabbed the shopper’s bags. The shopper then followed the vehicle, with the two cars leaving the parking lot and driving along Hillsboro Road, before getting onto Interstate 440.
In a turn of events, the shopper threw the extended magazine into the Tesla, which, according to MNPD, was later recovered along with two shell casings from the parking lot. Shortly after, the Tesla attempted to merge onto Interstate 65 north, but the driver, who had already been shot during the altercation, lost control and crashed into a tree. The driver was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
The MNPD confirmed that Moore was arrested and charged with aggravated robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Authorities said Moore was unable to provide clear answers about the shooting or the moments preceding the crash, and he refused to disclose his whereabouts before the incident.
Moore has a history with law enforcement, including a 2021 arrest for evading arrest, auto theft, and multiple traffic offenses. He was out on bond from a 2019 arrest at the time of the incident.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) also responded to the scene, and the investigation remains ongoing. Authorities are calling on the shopper involved in the altercation to come forward as a key witness. The Mall at Green Hills, in a statement, clarified that the incident occurred in the parking lot and not inside the mall, reassuring the public that the mall was not on lockdown.
As of late Tuesday afternoon, traffic had been diverted from the affected area, and the closure was lifted by 4:38 p.m., though delays were expected for some time. Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the events that led up to the tragic outcome.
