Nashville police detectives are pursuing leads in Sunday night’s murder of Ja’Niya Birdsong, 16, outside her grandmother’s home in the 3800 block of Eckhart Drive in South Nashville.
Ja’Niya’s 17-year-old relative was also hit by gunfire and suffered a leg wound. She is in stable condition.
Police say that the two victims “were involved in a dispute with a group of young men” at 7:50 p.m. Shots were fired and the young men fled in a light colored sedan.
Metro Nashville Public Schools spokesperson Sean Braisted said Birdsong was a junior at Hillsboro High School.
“We are saddened by the loss of Ja’Niya Birdsong to an act of gun violence over the weekend. Our thoughts are with her family and friends who are mourning her loss today, and our district grief counseling team will be at Hillsboro High today to provide support for anyone who needs it.”
Ja’niya’s family told WKRN she was on the wrestling team at the high school and worked at WingStop.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Nashville Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.
