NASHVILLE — Homicide Unit detectives early today charged David Van Dyke, 29, with criminal homicide for Sunday’s 7:18 p.m. fatal shooting of Avery Collier, 40, inside the Target store at 6814 Charlotte Pike.
The investigation, being led by Detective Kyle Williams, shows that the two men, who apparently did not know each other, had words near the front of the store just after Collier and his girlfriend walked in. A few minutes later, the two again had a verbal altercation near the electronics department, during which Van Dyke shot Collier. Collier collapsed in a store aisle and Van Dyke continued shooting at him. Collier died at the scene. No weapon was found on his person.
Van Dyke fled the store with other patrons during the commotion immediately after the gunfire. He went to a vehicle and subsequently returned to the front of the store after West Precinct officers had arrived on scene. Van Dyke placed his gun into a planter and told officers that he was the shooter. He made the same admission during an interview at police headquarters.
Van Dyke is being held in the Downtown Detention Center in lieu of $1 million bond.
