Zacquez Sherrell, an 18-year-old male, tragically lost his life on November 26, 2021, in a violent home invasion in Nashville, Tennessee. The evening took a devastating turn when two armed men forced their way into the Sherrell family's apartment on Torbett Street. The intruders opened fire, resulting in the death of Zacquez and his 15-year-old brother, Tavarius.
The gunfire also wounded their mother, two sisters, and another brother, who all sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department responded to the scene and found a chaotic and heartbreaking situation. One of the suspects, identified as 29-year-old Christian Akail Johnson, a convicted robber, was also found deceased at the scene. Investigators believe robbery was the primary motive for the brutal attack. Three firearms were recovered from inside the residence, indicating a possible exchange of gunfire. The surviving family members reported that Johnson and another man had knocked on their door before forcing their way inside and beginning to shoot.
For months, the second suspect remained at large, leaving the surviving members of the Sherrell family and the community searching for answers. The breakthrough in the case came on September 26, 2022, when TITANS Unit detectives with the Nashville police arrested 30-year-old Keno Lane. A grand jury indicted Lane on multiple charges, including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and especially aggravated burglary for his alleged role in the deadly home invasion. The investigation identified Lane as the accomplice of Christian Akail Johnson. Following his arrest, a Criminal Court judge ordered that Lane be held without bond as he awaits trial for the deaths of Zacquez and Tavarius Sherrell.
