On a Saturday morning, the 12th of July, 2025, 22-year-old Noah Taylor was driving to his job in Nashville, a routine journey that took a tragic and unexpected turn on Interstate 24 near Waldron Road in La Vergne, TN. In what has been described as a road rage incident, his vehicle was fired upon, leading to a fatal outcome. The gunfire caused him to lose control of his car, which then collided with other vehicles before veering off the roadway and coming to a stop in a tree line. First responders arrived at the scene to find Noah deceased. It was determined that he did not know the individuals who had shot at him.
The investigation into the death of the young Smyrna resident was swift. Detectives from the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office worked tirelessly, gathering evidence that pointed to a dark-colored Infiniti SUV as the vehicle from which multiple rounds were fired. This diligent police work, with assistance from the Murfreesboro Police Department's Real Time Crime Center, led to the identification of two suspects. LaTashia McGowan, 40, and Glenn Branson, 41, both of Smyrna, were arrested and subsequently charged with second-degree murder. Investigators do not believe Noah had any prior acquaintance with the suspects.
Following their arrests, Glenn Branson was held on a $1 million bond, and LaTashia McGowan's bond was set at $250,000 at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center. Court hearings were scheduled for September 23, 2025, in General Sessions Court. Evidence presented during a court appearance included surveillance and cell phone data, as well as bullet casings found in the suspects' trash that matched those at the scene. It was also revealed that Branson admitted to firing an AR rifle during the incident. The case, marked by emotional testimony and the presence of Noah's family seeking justice, was eventually sent to a grand jury.
