Officials with the Metro Nashville Police Department identified a homicide victim found in a Western Express parking lot as 24-year-old Deon. L. Brown.
His body was found around 6:30 a.m. Monday at Western Express, on Centennial Place.
Officials said Brown was stabbed to death. He was found near a fleet of trucks in the parking lot dressed as a woman.
"My cousin called me and she told me that I needed to get here, asking if was I off from work and that I needed to get here for my sister. I got here and she proceeded to tell me what was going on," said Margaritta Hill.
That's when Hill learned that her nephew was found dead.
Deon's closet friend believes it was a hate crime.
"The way that he was murdered would make me think that it was a hate crime. It makes me feel that you had nothing but hate in order to take the life in the manner that you did," said Charity Everett.
Police are now following leads and the search for the murder suspect has expanded into North Carolina.
"He took him from us. He took him from us, this wasn't an accident, he took him, and it's just a sad situation that my sisters going through right now," said Hill.
A mother who now has to deal with the loss of two sons. Deon's brother died in a tragic car crash, and now she's lost a second son, all in just 6 months. The family is hopeful that the killer will be captured, and bring justice for Deon.
"I want this person to know that we are going to get you we are going to get you," said Hill.
Detectives said they were pursuing strong leads. They asked anyone with information on the case to call Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463 or West Precinct Investigations at 615-862-7385.
There will be a candle light vigil in honor of Deon Friday in the parking lot of the beauty salon of where he used to work. The vigil will be held in the parking lot of 2225 Murfreesboro Pike Nashville, TN 37217 at 5 p.m.
