In a tragic and senseless act of violence, Christopher J. Sparks, a 36-year-old Caucasian male, was shot and killed in Nashville, Tennessee, on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 28, 2016. The incident unfolded as an apparent road rage encounter while Sparks was driving his red Honda Accord. He had recently relocated to Nashville from Chicago to be closer to his family and was on his lunch break, heading home to walk his dog.
While driving near the intersection of Buchanan Street and Ed Temple Boulevard, Sparks became involved in a heated verbal exchange with the occupant or occupants of a silver Chevrolet Impala with dark-tinted windows. The argument escalated quickly, and shots were fired from the Impala, striking Sparks. Mortally wounded, he died at the scene as his car came to a slow stop. Witnesses reported hearing the loud argument between the occupants of the two vehicles just before the gunshots rang out. The silver Impala was last seen turning onto Buchanan Street and fleeing the area.
Despite the incident occurring just a block from a police precinct, the assailant or assailants managed to escape. Investigators interviewed witnesses and gathered evidence from the scene, but they were unable to identify a suspect or get a license plate number from the fleeing vehicle. The Metro Nashville Police Department has investigated the case, which has since been moved to their Cold Case Unit. To date, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified.
The sudden and violent death of Christopher Sparks left his family and friends devastated. His brother has been a vocal advocate for justice, remembering Christopher as a brilliant, funny, and caring man who was a beloved uncle. In their search for answers and accountability, the Sparks family has offered a $25,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in connection with his murder. The case remains an active and unsolved investigation.
