In the early morning hours of March 5, 2021, a dispute inside a Nashville hookah bar tragically escalated, ending the life of 23-year-old Edgardo Cruz-Reyes. The male victim was at the Hookah City Café located at 4651 Nolensville Pike when a physical altercation broke out, reportedly over a woman. Amid the struggle, a gunman produced a weapon and opened fire within the establishment.
Responding to a 3:45 a.m. call, Metro Nashville Police officers arrived to a chaotic scene.
They discovered Edgardo Cruz-Reyes critically injured in the parking lot outside the hookah lounge. Emergency services transported him to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. A second man was also struck by gunfire, sustaining a non-life-threatening wound to his arm. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, numerous patrons fled the scene before law enforcement could conduct interviews.
The investigation into the homicide quickly identified a suspect. Two days after the fatal shooting, Homicide Unit detectives swore out a murder warrant for the arrest of Cesar Daniel Lara-Munoz, who was 23 years old at the time. The investigation, led by Detective Christopher Cote, pointed to Lara-Munoz as the individual who allegedly fired the shots that killed Cruz-Reyes and injured another patron during the fight inside the bar.
Following the issuance of the arrest warrant, authorities announced their belief that Cesar Daniel Lara-Munoz had likely fled the state of Tennessee. Law enforcement officials asked for the public's assistance in locating him, circulating his name and photograph. Information regarding his potential whereabouts was sought through Crime Stoppers, with the assurance that callers could remain anonymous and might be eligible for a cash reward. Despite these efforts, there is no publicly available information detailing the arrest, trial, or conviction of the suspect in connection with the death of Edgardo Cruz-Reyes.
