In the early morning hours of February 18, 2018, a night that began with a birthday celebration for her mother, ended in tragedy for 21-year-old Cachet Peterson. The young Black woman, who was studying to be a registered nurse and worked six days a week, was fatally wounded in a drive-by shooting in front of Southside Social in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Peterson was in a car with several other women, driving north, when a suspect in a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction opened fire, striking her and injuring another woman.
Family members were left reeling, stating that Peterson had no enemies and that they didn't believe the bullets were meant for her. Her sister described her as a warm person with a big smile who was loved by everyone. The night she was killed, Peterson had taken her mother out for dinner to celebrate her birthday before they went their separate ways. Later, she ended up outside the Southside Social club where the shooting occurred at approximately 1:27 a.m.
Surveillance footage from the area showed the suspect's vehicle parked in a lot across the street for about ten minutes, seemingly waiting, before the shooting took place. The Chattanooga Police Department launched a homicide investigation into the incident. At the time of the initial reports, no suspect had been publicly identified, and no arrests had been made in connection with the fatal shooting. Police have encouraged anyone with information regarding the shooting to come forward.
