Nashville, TN – As Nashville enters the new year, the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) continues its efforts to solve the over 500 unsolved homicide cases that date back to the 1960s. These unresolved cases represent a heartbreaking chapter for many families who are still searching for justice for their loved ones. The hope of a breakthrough remains, as some families mark another year without answers.
One such family is the Posey family. Amber Posey’s daughter, 17-year-old Ashanti Posey, was tragically shot and killed in April 2020. Ashanti, a talented basketball player with a scholarship to attend college, was shot while in her car. The loss has left Amber grappling with a profound sense of grief and longing. “It’s another round of holidays — another time that everybody will come together and that one person is missing that is supposed to be here,” she said. Despite the pain, Amber has found strength in the support of her community, but the absence of closure continues to weigh heavily on her heart.
Amber’s story is one among many as Nashville saw 104 homicides in 2024, a grim milestone that marked the fourth consecutive year of triple-digit homicide deaths in the city. For each of the 104 victims, there is a family left behind, each hoping for justice and a resolution to their loved one’s case.
To assist in addressing the backlog of unsolved cases, the MNPD launched a new website in 2024. This online platform aims to give fresh visibility to cold cases, some of which span decades. According to Sergeant Robert Nielson, a member of the MNPD’s Cold Case Unit, the department remains committed to providing answers for families affected by homicide. “We know how important it is to bring closure to these families, and we’re working tirelessly to solve as many of these cases as we can,” Nielson stated.
The new website features detailed information about open investigations, including unsolved homicides like Ashanti Posey’s case. While Amber knows that there are no easy solutions, the website provides a glimmer of hope that someone may come forward with vital information.
“It’s disheartening to know how many other families are touched by loss,” Amber said, reflecting on the broader impact of gun violence in the community. “Every day, we relive April the 9th because every day, another child is losing their life to gun violence in Davidson County.”
The Posey family’s story is a painful reminder of the ongoing epidemic of gun violence in Nashville. While 2024 may have brought more sadness, it also opened the door for greater community involvement and an enhanced effort from local law enforcement to bring closure to long-standing unsolved cases. For Amber and the many other families affected, the new year offers both continued grief and a renewed sense of hope.
