NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A crossing guard for Metro Nashville Public Schools was stabbed to death inside her East Nashville home late Thursday night. Her grandson has been charged in the case.
Metro Nashville police officers were called to the scene on South 10th Street around 10 p.m. after receiving a call from Xavier Lavender, 24, claiming that there had been a home invasion at his residence and that his grandmother had been stabbed.
Police said the victim, 68-year-old Gwendolyn Lavender, had been stabbed multiple times. She died at the scene.
The MNPD mourns the loss of our co-worker, school crossing guard Gwendolyn Lavender, 68, who was killed last night by her grandson. Her colleagues describe Ms. Lavender as "a very sweet lady"..."a great soul to be around"..."she kept the kids at Kirkpatrick Elementary safe." pic.twitter.com/ekYRIfrsyZ
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) January 18, 2019
Her grandson, Xavier Lavender, was taken to a local hospital to be treated for his injuries.
After talking with police, it was discovered that there were several holes in Xavier's story regarding what had happened leading up to the stabbing.
Investigators said Xavier then confessed to stabbing his grandmother. He told police that they had gotten into a heated argument and he had just "snapped." He even admitted to continually stabbing his grandmother as she tried to call for help.
Lavender has been charged with criminal homicide.
Gwendolyn Lavender was a crossing guard at KIPP Kirkpatrick Elementary School.
The following statement was released on the Metro Nashville PD School Crossing Guard's Twitter page on Friday around noon:
"It’s with a heavy heart to inform you that Mrs. Gwendolyn Lavender our Crossing Guard at Kipp Kirkpatrick passed away last night. She loved her little ones that she protected crossing the street. They brought her joy each and every day. Mrs. Lavender has been with us for only a year but she loved her job and hardly ever miss a day. Mrs. Lavender was a loving Christian lady who was so kind to everyone. She will be sadly missed. Our prayers go out to her family."
