In the early morning hours of December 22, 2023, the life of Richard Samuel “Sammy” Wilder, a 43-year-old male, was tragically cut short in Nashville, Tennessee. The incident unfolded around 1:50 a.m. when a person walking along the 1400 block of Brick Church Pike stumbled upon a wrecked pickup truck and immediately alerted the authorities. Inside the vehicle, first responders discovered Wilder in the driver's seat, not from injuries sustained in the crash, but from a fatal gunshot
wound.
Investigators quickly determined that the crash was a consequence of a more sinister event. It appeared that Wilder had been shot while driving his vehicle nearby in what detectives described as an apparent targeted shooting. The momentum of the truck continued until it ultimately crashed. The motive behind the shooting remained unclear in the initial stages of the investigation, prompting a public appeal for information.
The breakthrough in the case came when a witness to the shooting came forward and provided crucial information to the police. This witness was able to identify the alleged shooter, leading investigators to focus their efforts on a single suspect. Through the witness's identification, Metro Police were able to secure a warrant for the arrest of Corey Frazier.
In early January 2024, the investigation culminated in the apprehension of Frazier. He was taken into custody and subsequently booked on a charge of criminal homicide for the death of Richard Wilder. The arrest brought a sense of resolution to the initial phase of the investigation, though the question of why Wilder was targeted still lingered as the case prepared to move through the judicial system.
