Police said Damarion Morehead, 12, was shot during a fight near Union Terrace.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A 24-year-old man was charged with criminal homicide Monday after police said he fired shots during a downtown fight Sunday night, killing 12-year-old Damarion Morehead near Union Terrace.
Metro Nashville police identified the suspect as Devin Orr. Officers found Morehead with a gunshot wound to the head in the 400 block of Union Street and had him taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Police said he arrived in extremely critical condition and later died.
Police said the violence began when about 10 to 15 teenagers gathered near Union Terrace in what appeared to be a planned fight. Investigators later said video showed six or seven people, including Morehead, fighting with Orr in a courtyard near Representative John Lewis Way and Deaderick Street.
An arrest affidavit said the group struck Orr with punches and kicks to the head. Police said Orr then pulled a handgun from his waistband and fired two shots as others ran away. The video showed Morehead falling to the ground after the shots, according to investigators.
Detectives detained several people after the shooting before focusing on Orr. Police said Orr was arrested early Monday at a residence on Fisk Street. Investigators said he later admitted placing the pistol in a sewer on Charlotte Pike, where officers recovered it.
Police said the fight was believed to have started “over a female.” Officials have not released the names or ages of others involved, and it was not immediately clear whether additional charges were expected.
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell called the weekend violence among youth “heartbreaking” and said the city was mourning a child’s death. He thanked officers, investigators and medical responders for their work after the shooting.
Orr had no bond set as of Monday afternoon. Court records showed a judge reviewed the case Monday morning, with another court appearance scheduled for Wednesday at 9:55 a.m.
Author note: Last updated June 23, 2026.