Police say an injured man tried to carjack another vehicle after leaving an ambulance that was transporting him for treatment.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A man who was shot in the face during a Friday afternoon incident in Nashville later crashed his vehicle, jumped from an ambulance transporting him to a hospital and attempted to take another vehicle before officers took him into custody, according to police.
The unusual sequence of events began with a shooting in the Bordeaux area of Nashville and quickly developed into a multi-scene police investigation. Authorities said both people involved in the shooting left the original location in separate vehicles. The wounded man later crashed, leading emergency crews to respond without initially knowing he had been shot. The case remains under investigation as detectives work to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the actions that followed.
According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, officers responded Friday afternoon to reports of a shooting in Bordeaux. Investigators said the victim suffered a gunshot wound to the face. Police reported that both the shooting victim and the alleged shooter left the scene in their own vehicles before officers arrived. At some point afterward, the injured man’s vehicle crashed. Nashville Fire Department crews were dispatched to the crash scene and initially treated it as a traffic incident. Emergency personnel later learned the driver had been involved in the earlier shooting. Medical crews placed the man in an ambulance for transport to a hospital. What began as a response to a shooting and crash then took another turn when the patient reportedly left the ambulance before reaching medical care.
Authorities said the injured man jumped out of the ambulance while it was involved in transporting him for treatment. Police said he then attempted to carjack another person. Officers were called to the location and encountered the man shortly after the attempted vehicle theft. According to investigators, the situation became physical when the man allegedly tried to fight responding officers. Police eventually restrained him and took him into custody. Officials have not publicly identified the man or released detailed information about his medical condition. Investigators also have not disclosed exactly how far the ambulance had traveled before the patient exited it, nor have they explained what prompted him to flee despite having a serious facial gunshot wound.
Incidents involving shooting victims leaving medical transport vehicles are rare, making the case stand out even among major-city emergency responses. Police and emergency crews frequently respond to shooting scenes where victims transport themselves to hospitals or leave before officers arrive, but it is uncommon for a patient already under medical care in an ambulance to exit and become involved in another criminal investigation. The case also highlights the challenges first responders face when information develops rapidly across multiple locations. Initial responders to the crash reportedly did not know the driver was a gunshot victim because the shooting and crash were treated as separate events at first. As investigators pieced together the timeline, they connected the crash, ambulance incident and attempted carjacking to the original shooting.
Police said the alleged shooter was later arrested on Queens Lane following the initial shooting incident. Investigators have not publicly detailed the relationship between the two people involved or what led to the gunfire. Authorities also have not announced what charges, if any, the injured man may face in connection with the attempted carjacking or the confrontation with officers. Detectives are continuing to gather evidence, interview witnesses and review the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Additional information could be released once investigators complete interviews and prosecutors evaluate potential criminal charges. Officials have not announced a timeline for any court appearances related to the case.
Residents in the Bordeaux area saw a large emergency response unfold across several locations as the investigation progressed. What began as reports of a shooting soon expanded into a crash scene, a medical emergency and a police encounter involving an attempted vehicle theft. Authorities have released only limited details, but the unusual chain of events drew attention because of the number of separate incidents linked to a single gunshot victim. Police emphasized that the investigation remains active and that detectives are still working to establish a complete timeline. Emergency responders involved in the case moved from treating injuries to addressing public-safety concerns within a short period, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the incident.
As of Saturday, investigators were still examining the shooting and the events that followed. Police have confirmed that one suspect was arrested after the shooting, while the wounded man was taken into custody after leaving the ambulance. Authorities are expected to provide additional details as the investigation moves forward.
Author note: Last updated June 14, 2026.