On what should have been a routine early morning shift on August 30, 2022, Nicholas Patterson, a 34-year-old male employee at the Twice Daily gas station in Smyrna, Tennessee, found his life tragically cut short. Known for his friendly demeanor that could turn a customer's frown upside down, Nick had been a familiar face at the Stonecrest Boulevard convenience store for nine years. Shortly before 3:00 AM, an armed man entered the store and demanded money. In an act of senseless violence that lasted only seconds, the assailant opened fire, striking Patterson. Though rushed to a nearby hospital, his injuries proved fatal.
The investigation that followed involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Smyrna Police Department, Brentwood Police, Metro Nashville Police, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Their collaborative efforts quickly led to the identification of a suspect, Keanthony Martize Williams. Williams, who was on parole at the time of the shooting for a prior conviction of extortion and coercion of a witness, was also linked to two other robberies in Brentwood and Nashville that occurred within a three-day span of the Smyrna incident. A second individual, Kathryn Taylor, was later arrested and charged as a co-defendant in connection with the murder and attempted robbery of Nicholas Patterson.
Keanthony Martize Williams faced charges of first-degree murder and attempted aggravated robbery for the events that led to Patterson's death. In 2024, Williams was found guilty of the robberies in both Nashville and Brentwood, resulting in a 26-year prison sentence. His legal proceedings for the murder of Nick Patterson in Rutherford County were scheduled to continue, with a court appearance set for October 2025. The case against him in Smyrna was subject to delays, including a period for a mental health evaluation. Kathryn Taylor also faced charges of first-degree murder and attempted aggravated robbery.
