In the autumn of 2021, a burst of gunfire shattered the peace of a Nashville neighborhood, tragically ending the life of 16-year-old Ja’Niya Birdsong, an African American female. The incident, which occurred on September 26 in the driveway of her grandmother's home on Eckhart Drive, also left a 17-year-old girl with non-life-threatening injuries.
Birdsong was a junior at Hillsboro High School and had dreams of becoming a hairstylist.
The investigation into the shooting revealed that the violence erupted following an argument between a man and his 17-year-old ex-girlfriend, the same girl who was wounded in the attack. After the dispute, the man drove away, and then shots were fired from the vehicle towards the two young women. Ja’Niya Birdsong died at the scene.
In the months and years that followed, a wide-ranging investigation led to the arrests of multiple suspects. The first to be taken into custody, in November 2021, was 21-year-old Mohamed Sowa, who was charged with murder and attempted murder. He was identified as the ex-boyfriend who had been arguing with the surviving victim.
The investigation continued, and by 2023, four more men were arrested on grand jury indictments related to the murder. These suspects were identified as Abas Muhina, Abdirahmani Muhina, Mohamed Awees, and Daquan Pate. In June 2025, a sixth suspect, Dadiri Muhina, was arrested and indicted on charges of first-degree murder and evidence tampering, marking the latest development in the ongoing effort to bring justice for Ja’Niya Birdsong.
