NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A teenage girl is dead and another is injured in a shooting in South Nashville Sunday night.
The shooting was reported at about 8 p.m. Sunday on Eckhart Drive.
According to Metro Nashville Police, the girls got into an argument with a group of young men. Sixteen-year-old Ja'niya Birdsong was shot and killed. Her family member, 17-year-old Jaquilynn Tolbert was injured.
BREAKING: A dispute between 2 teenage girls & several young men resulted in gunfire Sun night in the 3800 block of Eckhart Dr in South Nashville. Ja'niya Birdsong, 16, was killed. Her relative, Jaquilynn Tolbert, 17, was wounded (not life threatening). Strong leads being pursued. pic.twitter.com/UJuzMdJnUE
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) September 27, 2021
Metro Nashville Public Schools confirms that Birdsong was an 11th grader at Hillsboro High School. The district released the following statement on Monday:
“We are saddened by the loss of Ja’Niya Birdsong to an act of gun violence over the weekend. Our thoughts are with her family and friends who are mourning her loss today, and our district grief counseling team will be at Hillsboro High today to provide support for anyone who needs it.”
A GoFundMe has been set up to assist her family with funeral expenses.
We’re talking with the family of Ja’Niya Birdsong. The 16-year-old was shot and killed Sunday night.
— Kyle Horan (@KyleHoranNC5) September 27, 2021
Her family is begging for people to come forward with information about her killing.
Her mother is sitting in the back in red. A family spokesperson holds Ja’Niya’s picture. pic.twitter.com/XqJwSDxGy3
Metro Police said detectives are pursuing strong leads in the case.
According to Metro's Police Data Dashboard, this is the Nashville's 89th homicide of the year. That's up from 66 homicides compared with the same time last year, according to an independent NewsChannel 5 count.
Sunday night's fatal shooting happened in the 37211 zip code. There have already been eight homicides reported in that zip code this year.
One of them was just about a block away from Sunday night's scene. In July, police said a woman shot and killed a man in self-defense on Scotwood Drive.
