Campus Alert Archive
TSU

Gang Crossfire After Homecoming Parade Kills One, Wounds Nine Including Three Children

TNshootingemergency notificationmedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

On October 12, 2024, at approximately 5:10 PM CDT, rival groups opened fire on each other on Jefferson Street near the Tennessee State University campus as homecoming parade crowds lingered, killing 24-year-old Vonquae Johnson and wounding nine others, including three children aged 12 to 14. First responders used their belts as tourniquets. Two suspects, Marquez Davis and DeAnthony Brown, were arrested two days later.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
1
Injured
9
Institution
Tennessee State University
Hbcu · TN
~8,600 studentsTiger Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTmulti-channel
Approximate reconstruction148 chars
TSU ALERT: Shooting reported on Jefferson Street near campus. Avoid the area. If you are in the area, seek shelter immediately. Police are on scene.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

The shooting occurred at approximately 5:10 PM CDT on the 2600 block of Jefferson Street, after the homecoming parade had ended
The homecoming parade ran from 8:00 AM to approximately 12:00 PM CDT; the shooting happened hours later while crowds were still in the area
UPDATEmulti-channel
Approximate reconstruction252 chars
TSU ALERT UPDATE: The shooting on Jefferson Street is not an on-campus incident. No TSU students or university affiliates were involved. The campus community was at Nissan Stadium for the homecoming game at the time. MNPD is handling the investigation.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

TSU emphasized the shooting did not occur on campus and no university affiliates were involved
Most of the campus community was at Nissan Stadium attending the homecoming football game when the shooting occurred
Context

Background

On October 12, 2024, approximately five hours after Tennessee State University's homecoming parade ended, gunfire erupted on the 2600 block of Jefferson Street at approximately 5:10 PM CDT. Investigators determined that two groups with gang affiliations exchanged words and then opened fire at each other in a parking lot still crowded with homecoming visitors. Twenty-four-year-old Vonquae Johnson, one of the participants in the shootout, was killed. Nine others were wounded, including three children aged 12 to 14. Officers and Nashville Fire Department personnel who were patrolling the area used their belts as tourniquets because they did not have their medical bags. The Metro Nashville Police Department arrested Marquez Davis and DeAnthony Brown, both 24, on October 14 at a short-term rental property near the scene. Davis was allegedly carrying an assault-style rifle with a loaded extended magazine at the time of arrest. TSU officials emphasized the shooting was off campus and not connected to the university, noting most students were at Nissan Stadium for the homecoming football game. The incident was the second fatal shooting near TSU during homecoming festivities, following a 2015 incident that also involved non-student shooters.
Analysis

Key Findings

The shooting involved rival groups with gang affiliations, and the deceased was identified as one of the participants in the gunfire exchange
Three children aged 12-14 were among those wounded, highlighting the danger to bystanders at large public gatherings
First responders improvised tourniquets from belts because they were patrolling without medical kits, raising preparedness questions
Outcome
Vonquae Johnson, 24, was killed. Nine others were wounded, including three juveniles aged 12-14. Suspects Marquez Davis and DeAnthony Brown, both 24, were arrested on October 14 at a short-term rental near the scene. Davis was carrying an assault-style rifle with a loaded extended magazine at the time of arrest.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    Shooting near Tennessee State University after homecoming parade (CNN)
    cnn.com
  2. News
    10 shot, one fatally, after Tennessee State University homecoming parade (NBC News)
    nbcnews.com
  3. News
    2 suspects arrested in mass shooting near Tennessee State University (ABC News)
    abcnews.go.com
  4. News
    Mass shooting investigation underway near TSU during homecoming (Fox17 Nashville)
    fox17.com
  5. News
    Suspects in deadly Jefferson Street shooting appear in court (NewsChannel5)
    newschannel5.com
Tags
shootingfatalhbcuhomecomingtennesseemass-shootinggang-relatedoff-campuschildren-wounded
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion