NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A violent confrontation in a South Nashville shopping center resulted in the severe injury of a woman Wednesday evening, leading to the arrest of 58-year-old Nelson Alvarado of Antioch.
The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) responded to reports at approximately 7:20 p.m. on February 5 from a shopping center near the intersection of Murfreesboro Pike and Bell Road.
Witnesses reported seeing a man drag a woman into a vehicle, prompting immediate concern.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers did not initially locate the victim. However, witnesses directed them to a nearby hill, where they found the woman stumbling, covered in blood with a deep gash to her throat.
The victim, who had suffered a severe cut near her jugular vein, was quickly rushed to a hospital by ambulance. The MNPD’s investigation soon identified Alvarado as the alleged attacker.
According to an arrest affidavit, a witness who knew the couple intervened, taking a box cutter-like weapon away from the suspect. The witness reported that he saw Alvarado assaulting the woman and heard him threatening, “If you don’t come with me, I will kill you.” The victim was then reportedly slashed in the neck with a razor blade-like tool, which police have now retained as evidence. Following the attack, officers located Alvarado at a nearby residence and took him into custody.
During questioning, Alvarado told authorities that he and the woman had been arguing over plans to return to Venezuela. He claimed that the woman wanted to remain in the U.S., and after an alleged altercation in which she reportedly punched him, he retaliated by hitting her back.
However, Alvarado did not offer any explanation for the woman’s throat injury. The victim, who was later discharged from the hospital, has chosen to return home and indicated she would seek support services at the Family Safety Center.
Despite this, she declined both counseling and shelter services, stating that she felt safe at home. Alvarado faces charges related to the brutal attack, as police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The case highlights the ongoing concern for domestic violence and the importance of swift intervention in such violent situations.
