A man and two women were shot in a domestic violence-related exchange of gunfire Wednesday at 11:45 p.m. at an apartment in the 1900 block of Zermatt Avenue.
As Midtown Hills Precinct officers responded to Zermatt Avenue, South Precinct officers responded to Waffle House at 14991 Old Hickory Boulevard where the two female victims had driven for help. The male suspect, Tarell Lewis, 40, had driven himself to General Hospital and was transported to Vanderbilt Medical Center.
Lewis’ girlfriend had reportedly returned to the couple’s Zermatt Avenue apartment to gather her belongings and retrieve their three children, ages six, two, and one, after she was physically assaulted by Lewis earlier in the day. Another woman accompanied her for support. Lewis began to argue with his girlfriend, allegedly hitting and threatening her. She reported that after seeing that Lewis was armed, she retrieved a handgun. The couple exchanged gunfire. She was struck in her upper left chest. The wound is not life-threatening. The other female was struck in the shoulder and was treated and released. Lewis remains hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.
The couple’s three children were present at the time of the shooting. The six-year-old was downstairs in the room where the shooting occurred but was not struck. The other two children were upstairs.
Lewis, who has prior felony drug and weapon possession convictions, will be charged with two counts of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, and felon in possession of a handgun. He will also be charged on an outstanding warrant for domestic violence for an alleged assault on February 11 involving his ex-girlfriend.
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Tarell Lewis, 40