On a Thursday afternoon in May 2018, the bustling Opry Mills Mall in Nashville, Tennessee, became the scene of a fatal encounter for Demarco Churchwell, a 22-year-old man. The shooting, which occurred near the Auntie Anne's and Lids stores, was the culmination of a bitter, months-long dispute between Churchwell and another man, Justin Golson, also 22.
The conflict had been escalating, playing out over text messages and social media, creating a palpable tension between the two.
On May 3rd, that tension erupted into violence. Churchwell approached Golson at the shoe shine kiosk where he worked inside the mall. An argument ensued, and in a matter of moments, gunfire echoed through the shopping center, leaving Churchwell fatally wounded.
Justin Golson was arrested and charged with criminal homicide for the shooting of Demarco Churchwell. However, the legal proceedings took a significant turn. Golson's defense attorney argued that his client had acted in self-defense. This claim was substantiated by video evidence from the mall, which reportedly showed Golson backing away from the confrontation with his hands raised. Further evidence was found on Golson's phone, which he voluntarily turned over to the police, revealing the history of threats between the two men.
After a review of the evidence, including additional video that became available after the preliminary hearing, the Davidson County District Attorney's office concluded that there was an overwhelming amount of evidence supporting Golson's claim of self-defense. The prosecutor noted that the evidence indicated Golson was genuinely in fear for his life. Consequently, the murder case against Justin Golson was dismissed, and he was released from jail. While the criminal case against Golson concluded, the tragic event left a lasting impact, particularly on Churchwell's family, who were left to mourn the loss of their son. In a related development, Churchwell's 21-year-old girlfriend, who was present at the mall, was charged with illegally carrying firearms after police discovered two loaded and stolen pistols in her purse.
