In the early evening of Tuesday, February 7, 2012, a burst of gunfire shattered the peace of a Nashville neighborhood, forever altering the lives of one family. Inside her home on Haynes Street, 43-year-old Tonya Ross was resting in her bedroom when the shots rang out just before 6:30 p.m. Struck by the gunfire that penetrated the walls of her residence, Tonya was fatally wounded. She was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to her injuries shortly after arrival.
Tonya's parents were also in the house at the time of the shooting and were unharmed. Her mother, Johnnie Ross, recalled hearing the shots and immediately running to her husband's side. After ensuring his safety, she called out for her daughter for help but received no response. When she went to Tonya's room, she discovered her daughter had been shot. Investigators found several bullet holes in the wall of Tonya's bedroom.
The family, who had lived in the home for 52 years, was left devastated and searching for answers, unable to comprehend why Tonya would be the target of such a violent act. At the time, police were investigating whether Tonya was the intended victim or if the assailants had targeted the wrong house.
Tonya M. Ross was a mother to four daughters: Sharricka Ross, Naton Jumper, Latonya Ross, and Briana Ross. She was also a grandmother to five grandchildren. Years have passed since her tragic death, and the case remains unsolved. The Nashville Police Department continues to seek information from the public regarding her murder, with no arrests made and no suspects publicly identified. The investigation into who fired the fatal shots that ended Tonya Ross's life is ongoing.
