In the early morning hours of September 7, 2026, a burst of gunfire shattered the quiet of a parking garage at 1200 Broadway in Nashville, Tennessee. When the echoes faded, 26-year-old Layth Hantouli, a man described by loved ones as kind-hearted, sweet, very generous, and smart, lay dead from multiple gunshot wounds. The incident, which occurred at approximately 9:15 a.m., left more questions than answers in its immediate wake. Hantouli was a graduate of Glencliff High School.
Responding to reports of shots fired, Metro Nashville Police officers discovered Hantouli on the fifth floor of the garage. Evidence at the scene indicated that an exchange of gunfire had taken place. Investigators determined that at least two male suspects had entered the garage before Hantouli arrived in his own vehicle. A handgun was found near Hantouli's right hand, suggesting he may have returned fire. The suspects, however, had vanished, fleeing the scene before authorities arrived. The motive for the shooting was not immediately clear, but a search of Hantouli's vehicle uncovered approximately six pounds of marijuana. This discovery prompted a wider investigation, leading detectives to an apartment within the same building that was linked to Hantouli. Inside, they found a much larger cache of over 200 pounds of marijuana.
In the days following the fatal shooting, the investigation continued, but details about the perpetrators remained scarce. The Metro Nashville Police Department issued a public appeal for information, urging anyone with knowledge of the murder to contact Crime Stoppers. A cash reward of up to $5,000 was offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Hantouli's death, with the assurance that callers could remain anonymous. Despite these efforts, there have been no subsequent announcements regarding any arrests or the identification of any suspects in the case. The shooting of Layth Hantouli is officially considered an unsolved homicide, leaving a family to grieve and a community with lingering questions about the violent end to a young life. The case remains an open investigation, a stark reminder of the brutal encounter that transpired in the confines of a downtown parking garage.
