Fifteen-year-old Jeremiah Shelton was shot and killed on the evening of February 7, 2018, at the Berkshire Place Apartments in East Nashville. Jeremiah, a freshman at Whites Creek High School, was at the complex with friends and family when a single gunshot struck his chest. He was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and later pronounced dead.

A 19-year-old acquaintance, Joshua D. Hockett, was arrested and charged with felony criminal homicide. Hockett told police the shooting happened accidentally while they were horse playing with a firearm. Investigators recovered two handguns at the scene; Hockett was held on $150,000 bond as the case proceeded.

Jeremiah’s family, including his mother Andrea Shelton and his aunt Denise Hereford, and members of the community held a candlelight vigil at the apartments to mourn him. Jeremiah was remembered as friendly and athletic, with a passion for basketball and track. If anyone was at Berkshire Place Apartments that night or has information about the shooting, please come forward.