In the early morning hours of Saturday, October 18, 2025, a visit to Nashville for a young Hispanic man from Memphis ended in tragedy. Adrian Rivas-Romo, a 23-year-old male, was fatally shot following a dispute that began over the cost of a pedicab ride. The incident unfolded around 2:20 a.m. on Rep. John Lewis Way South, just outside the BetMGM Sports Lounge near the Bridgestone Arena, a bustling area known for its nightlife.
Rivas-Romo and his friends had hired two pedicabs to take
them from 2nd Avenue back to their hotel. During the journey, an argument erupted between one of Rivas-Romo's friends and their driver concerning the fare. This led to both pedicab drivers stopping their vehicles. The driver of the second pedicab, 21-year-old Christopher Jones, who was transporting Rivas-Romo, then ordered the entire group to exit both vehicles, refusing to take them any further.
The disagreement quickly escalated into a physical altercation. Jones later claimed to police that he was punched in the back of the head by one of Rivas-Romo's friends. Following this, Jones stated that he retrieved his pistol. He alleged that Rivas-Romo then came toward him quickly, which prompted him to fire his weapon. Rivas-Romo was struck and subsequently transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
After the shooting, Christopher Jones himself called 911 to report the incident. He remained at the scene and identified himself as the shooter when Metro Nashville Police officers arrived. His firearm was recovered by the authorities. Homicide detectives are investigating the case, which includes a review of Jones's claim of self-defense. The District Attorney's Office is working closely with the detectives to review the evidence and witness statements to determine whether criminal charges will be filed against Jones.
