NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A total of four teens were injured in a shooting at the Nashville MTA Music City Central bus station.
Officials said the shooting happened around 3:30 Monday afternoon, on the top floor near the escalator inside the MTA station.
Javious Chatman, 18, was critically injured when he was shot in the abdomen. The three other victims, two 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old suffered non-life threatening injuries. Police said they suffered graze wounds.
All of the victims were taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
The incident happened during a very busy time of day at the bus station. About 4,500 students pass through the station on a daily basis. Several schools partner with MTA, allowing students to use their school ID card for a free bus ride home.
The scene became very chaotic after the shots rang out.
The crowd scattered after numerous shots were fired. A window washer, working on a building across from the John Sevier state office building, saw two people run from the bus station, and ultimately toss a gun into shrubs at the John Sevier building.
About that time, officers responded to the scene, and the window washer yelled from his perch, "Stop them. Stop them."
The two 17-year-olds were named as persons of interest and taken into custody. Officers also recovered the gun in question.
It was unclear what led up to the incident, but police did not believe it was random. Officials said the persons of interest could be seen in surveillance video riding the MTA escalator multiple times as if they were looking for someone.
Police taped off a portion of Charlotte Ave. including a MTA bus that was being unloaded at the time of the incident.
The Metro Transportation Authority warned locals of delays because of the shooting.
Thousands of students are in town for DECA Inc. at Bridgestone Arena. The organization has responded to the shooting incident, saying they have worked with police to make sure their attendees are safe.
