Daniela Medina

Daniela Medina, an 18-year-old Hispanic woman, was celebrating her birthday in Nashville, Tennessee, when her life was cut short. Born on January 8, 2001, she was the mother of a 10-month-old baby girl named Hope Abigail Medina. A family fundraising page described her death as a "senseless killing." Her mother, Wendy Medina, was a vibrant and helpful member of a local sewing team who had recently been promoted.

On the evening of January 9, 2019, just one day after she turned 18, Daniela was in the parking lot of the Rolling Hills Apartments on Premier Drive in West Nashville. Around 9 p.m., she was shot in the torso while in a car. Emergency responders transported her to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. Her death was the first homicide recorded in Davidson County that year.

The investigation quickly focused on Daniela’s 17-year-old ex-boyfriend, Osmar Miranda Porras. According to police, Porras was the person who called 911 after the shooting, but he was not honest with the responding officers. He was a student at Hillwood High School and had previously lived at the apartment complex but had been banned from the property.

On January 10, police arrested Porras and charged him with criminal homicide. Investigators reported that they had recovered the weapon used in the shooting and believed Porras had handled it. While Porras was in custody, police stated that they were looking for other possible suspects who may have been involved.

In the wake of the tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign was established to help Daniela’s mother with funeral costs and to cover her bills while she was away from work. The family asked for prayers as they grieved their profound loss.

As of January 2019, the investigation into Daniela Medina’s death was ongoing. Authorities have asked that anyone with information about the shooting call Nashville Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.