In the late afternoon of March 23, 2024, tragedy struck at the Hermitage Flats Apartments on Old Hickory Boulevard in Hermitage, Tennessee, when 17-year-old Camron McGlothen and his 18-year-old roommate, Reginald Smart, were fatally shot. The two teenagers were standing near the breezeway of their apartment building at approximately 4:45 p.m. when they were approached by three individuals. At least one of the assailants was wearing a ski mask.
The suspects opened fire, striking both McGlothen and Smart multiple times before fleeing the scene.
The brazen daylight attack left the community in shock, particularly as it was witnessed by several people, including children who were playing nearby. One neighbor described the scene as gruesome, with police tape and blood everywhere. When Hermitage Precinct officers arrived, they found both young men on the ground and unresponsive. Smart was pronounced dead at the scene. McGlothen was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.
Metro Nashville Police Department's Homicide Unit immediately began investigating the case as a targeted double homicide, believing the victims were specifically chosen by their attackers. While the motive for the shooting remains under investigation, authorities have made progress in identifying and apprehending those believed to be responsible.
In connection with the murders, police have arrested two suspects. One of the individuals taken into custody is 34-year-old Xavier Ellison. He was apprehended during a traffic stop on I-65 South by Franklin Police, who stopped the vehicle for an illegal tint. Ellison, a passenger in the car, initially provided a false name before being positively identified. He is now the second suspect in custody for the targeted killings of McGlothen and Smart. The investigation continues as authorities work to bring all responsible parties to justice.
