In the summer of 2017, the life of 26-year-old Jonathan Cheers was tragically cut short in a burst of gunfire. On the night of August 12th, Cheers was at the Cumberland View apartments in North Nashville when violence erupted. He was found in a breezeway of the complex, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Another man, Treon Bright, who was 23 at the time, was also shot and injured in the incident but survived.
The investigation into the shooting quickly led Metro Nashville Police
to identify a suspect. Ten days after the fatal shooting, 25-year-old Robert Richards of La Vergne turned himself in to authorities. He was subsequently charged with the murder of Jonathan Cheers and the attempted murder of Treon Bright. The motive for the shooting was not immediately released by law enforcement officials.
Following his arrest, the legal process against Robert Richards began. However, the path to justice has been a lengthy one. Richards was later released on bond while awaiting trial for the murder and attempted murder charges. In a subsequent turn of events in January 2020, Richards was arrested again in La Vergne on a host of new charges, including evading arrest and unlawful possession of a weapon, after leading police on a chase.
As of late 2025, the murder case against Robert Allen Richards for the death of Jonathan Cheers remains open and is still making its way through the Davidson County criminal justice system. Court records indicate that proceedings are ongoing, with future court dates scheduled, leaving the final resolution of the case pending.
