NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A suspect involved in a robbery and subsequent hours-long manhunt surrendered to authorities Thursday afternoon after fleeing into the Stones River near Donelson. The incident began around 1:36 p.m. when Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) responded to a robbery at gunpoint in the 3000 block of Lebanon Pike, near a local shopping center.
According to MNPD spokesperson Don Aaron, a woman was robbed at gunpoint by 47-year-old Nathaniel Williams, who then fled on foot toward a nearby greenway. Law enforcement quickly arrived at the scene, deploying officers from the Hermitage Precinct, along with a police helicopter for aerial support. The helicopter successfully located Williams as he fled through the greenway.
As officers moved to arrest him, Williams reportedly entered the Stones River, where he was seen kneeling on a log and holding onto nearby brush to keep himself from being swept away. Despite the danger of the water and being in an isolated position, Williams remained armed, prompting authorities to exercise caution while attempting to bring him into custody.
Authorities, including a team in a boat positioned nearby, waited for Williams to surrender. After a tense four-hour standoff, Williams finally gave himself up and was safely transported to a police boat. At the time of his surrender, he was taken into custody and charged with multiple offenses.
Williams, a Nashville resident, has an extensive criminal history dating back to 1995. He was convicted of second-degree murder in 1999 and served approximately 20 years in prison before being released. Most recently, Williams was wanted on charges related to an attempted murder involving the shooting of his brother in April.
In a statement, Aaron confirmed that Williams would be facing serious charges, including those related to the robbery and his previous criminal activity. As of Thursday evening, Williams remained in police custody awaiting formal charges.
