Gunfire resulting from an attempted marijuana robbery Saturday afternoon in the parking lot of the Waffle House at 816 Murfreesboro Pike killed Brandon Leminh Phan, 18, of Nashville, who the investigation shows was taking part in the attempted robbery. Homicide Unit detectives are pursuing active leads as they work to identify the person whose gunfire fatally wounded Phan.
Detectives have determined that Phan and James Sanders, 18, arrived at the parking lot together and got into a white SUV occupied by two men. Phan subsequently got out of the vehicle and then reached back inside, resulting in gunfire. Phan was hit. He and Sanders, both armed with pistols, ran before Phan collapsed nearby. He died shortly after arriving at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Sanders tossed the guns he and Phan had been carrying into a dumpster prior to police arrival. Both pistols were recovered. During an interview at police headquarters, Sanders admitted that he and Phan were going to rob the other two individuals of a pound of marijuana.
Sanders was charged this morning with attempted aggravated robbery, evidence tampering, using a gun during the commission of a dangerous felony, and unlawful gun possession. He is being held in lieu of $80,000 bond.
Homicide Unit Detective Tyler Manivong is leading this continuing investigation.
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James Sanders, 18