In a tragic turn of events on a Friday afternoon in Nashville, Tennessee, Deangelo Foxx, a 32-year-old Black man, was fatally shot on April 21, 2017. The incident, which unfolded around 4:30 p.m. on Shelby Avenue, is believed to have stemmed from a road rage altercation. Foxx was the front seat passenger in a Toyota Camry being driven by his girlfriend, Kassandra Jones.
The conflict began when Jones attempted to merge into traffic, leading to a dispute with the occupants of a white
Mercedes. The verbal argument escalated horrifically when a passenger in the Mercedes opened fire on the Camry. Foxx was struck by the gunfire and was later pronounced dead at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Law enforcement acted swiftly, and a suspect was apprehended later the same day. Frederick Owens Jr., 21 years old at the time, was identified as the shooter. After the incident, Owens reportedly abandoned the Mercedes and attempted to flee in a gray Ford Fusion before being taken into custody. During questioning, Owens admitted to firing the shots.
Owens was subsequently charged with criminal homicide, and his bond was set at $1 million. It was also revealed that Owens had a criminal history that included prior convictions for aggravated assault, drug possession, and evading arrest. The death of Deangelo Foxx marked the third fatal road rage shooting in Davidson County since September of the previous year, highlighting a disturbing trend in the area.
