NASHVILLE, TENN. — Law enforcement throughout the region are on the lookout for accused murderer Domenic Micheli, 36, who, from witness accounts, used a hatchet and another bladed instrument to brutally attack and kill his former employer.
An emergency call from Balance Training in the strip shopping center at 5133 Harding Pike was received at 6:55 a.m. The investigation shows that Micheli entered the business moments earlier and attacked Joel Paavola, 46, who was assisting clients in a workout routine. Witnesses reported that Micheli, armed with a hatchet and another bladed instrument in each hand, struck Paavola multiple times before fleeing. Paavola died en route to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Micheli fled the property with his weapons in an older model small silver Toyota, either a Prius or a Yaris. The car was photographed earlier in the morning by a surveillance camera in the parking garage underneath the strip mall.
URGENT: Domenic Micheli, 36, being sought in relation to this morning’s fatal attack on an employee of Balance Fitness in Nashville. A hatchet was reportedly used.
Murder victim is Joel Paavola, 46, who ran the business. Paavola reportedly fired Micheli 14 months ago. – MNPD pic.twitter.com/JLUTdSizrn
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) June 4, 2018
Detectives have learned that Micheli had been traveling outside of Tennessee in recent times. He is known to have been in Oregon in August 2017, and in Washington, D.C. in April 2018. He was arrested by the U.S. Secret Service on April 27th for driving his car to a checkpoint near the White House and refusing directives to move.
Anyone seeing Micheli, who is likely still driving the Toyota, is asked to immediately contact 615-862-8600 or their local law enforcement agency.
