Investigation Advancing into Gunfire on Jefferson Street Saturday Evening

The continuing investigation over the weekend and today into Saturday evening's gunfire on Jefferson Street that wounded ten persons indicates, to this point, that approximately five individuals with local gang affiliations indiscriminately started shooting at each other shortly after 5 p.m. at the intersection of 27th Avenue North and Jefferson Street.

One of the five, Vonquae Johnson, 24, was fatally hit and died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Two additional persons among the five were wounded and hospitalized.

Four of the five have adult arrest histories. One was convicted just six months ago on charges of robbery, felony possession of the drug Ecstasy for resale, and felony gun possession. He received a 10-year probated sentence to the Community Corrections Program.

Homicide Unit detectives and their counterparts in the Specialized Investigations Division continue to develop additional information about those involved in the gunfire and build criminal cases against them.

"Our detective teams have advanced this investigation significantly since Saturday evening and continue to gather information on those involved," Chief John Drake said. "The shooters obviously had no regard for human life and put a crowd of innocent persons, including children, in extreme danger. The entire criminal justice system must treat violent gun crime with the seriousness it demands with resulting incarceration for those convicted."

The nine surviving persons wounded Saturday evening are all recovering. None are critical.