On a Christmas Day in Nashville, Tennessee, what began as a leisurely afternoon of playing Pokémon Go ended in a fatal roadside confrontation for Graeme Whinery. The 31-year-old white male was driving with his wife on December 25, 2016, near the Greenwood Cemetery when a dispute with another driver escalated with deadly consequences.
The incident began as a road rage encounter between Whinery, who was in his black Volkswagen, and 53-year-old Vince Freeman, a delivery driver.
Reports from the time indicate that Whinery was driving erratically, reportedly braking suddenly in front of Freeman's van. This led to a confrontation where both men exited their vehicles.
According to Freeman's account to the police, an angered Whinery approached his van, allegedly holding a knife. Freeman stated that Whinery then punched him in the face through the open window of his vehicle. In response, Freeman retrieved a pistol and fired at Whinery. After being shot, Whinery ran across Elm Hill Pike, where he collapsed and died from his injuries. Whinery's wife, who was a passenger in his car, confirmed to investigators that the incident stemmed from road rage, though she did not witness the physical altercation.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Vince Freeman remained at the scene and cooperated fully with the Metro Nashville Police Department. He claimed that his actions were in self-defense, a response to being physically assaulted by an armed individual. Based on his statement and the initial evidence gathered at the scene, Freeman was not arrested, and no charges were filed against him at that time. The case was, however, turned over to the District Attorney's office for review, a standard procedure in such cases. The investigation into the death of Graeme Whinery was to determine if the claim of self-defense was justifiable under Tennessee law. Despite the initial investigation and the referral to the District Attorney, there have been no subsequent public announcements of any charges being filed against Vince Freeman in the years following the incident. The case, as it stands based on available information, did not lead to an arrest or a trial.
