3 injured in shooting at party near TSU identified

A man shot in the head outside an overnight house party during a mass shooting near Tennessee State University's campus was clinging to life Wednesday, while a gunman and two accomplices remained at large.

Calvin James Scott Jr., 20, was one of three people shot outside a large house party in the 3200 block of Albion Street after a trio of armed men were turned away from the home, police spokesman Don Aaron said.

The other shooting victims were identified as Chase Stevenson, 19, a TSU student; and Aaron Bachelor, 20, a student at Nashville State Community College. Scott is a former Middle Tennessee State University student who was last enrolled there in the spring, a spokesman for the university said.

Officers responded at 12:35 a.m. to the home after multiple people called 911 to report a shooting in the area near TSU, police said.

"I was walking up the street to the party to see my cousin when I heard gunshots, 'boom, boom, boom,' and I hit the ground," said Eric Freeman, a 25-year-old TSU senior studying mechanical engineering. "People were running in all directions. Cars started whizzing by."

That's when Freeman said he got up and saw a body in the street at the intersection of Albion Street and 33rd Avenue North.

It was his cousin.

"His girlfriend was screaming he'd been shot," Freeman said as he stood near the pavement where his cousin fell to the ground. "I'd just got off the phone with him nine minutes earlier. There was so much blood. He just didn't deserve this, man."

According to a preliminary investigation, three armed males arrived at the party, were turned away by its hosts, and one of the males mentioned "shooting at the place," Aaron said. Shortly after, a barrage of bullets were fired into a crowd outside the home.

Before Scott was shot, police say, he had been sitting in a car with his girlfriend when he heard gunfire, got out to investigate and was struck in the head by a bullet. Although Scott was armed with a gun, it does not appear that he fired the weapon, Aaron said.

Stevenson suffered a gunshot wound to his buttocks and was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to be treated for the non-life- threatening wound. Bachelor suffered a gunshot wound to his left arm. He was treated and released from Centennial Medical Center. Both were taken by private vehicle to their respective hospitals.

Marvin Smartt, 51, who lives in a home at the corner of 32nd Avenue North and Albion Street, said he slept through the shooting.

"But it woke my sister," he said from the front door of his home. "She heard a slew of gunshots, looked out the window and saw people hiding in yards and cars scattering. I'm just glad no one was hit by bullets in any of these homes."

Outside Smartt's home Wednesday morning, a slew of red Solo cups lined the streets behind yellow crime scene tape and a tow truck hauled off a Dodge Charger and a Dodge Stratus. An officer nearby said the vehicles were blocking part of the street.

As of Wednesday, Aaron said, the shooting suspect and his two accomplices remained at large.

Police described the gunman as a black male, 5 feet 9 inches and 220 pounds with a dark complexion, fade haircut and wearing a grey hoodie with beige pants. The second suspect was described as a black male, 5 feet 11 inches and 160 pounds with a dark complexion, dreadlocks and wearing a purple hoodie.

A complete description of the third suspect was not known, but police say he was a black male who wore a green hoodie.

The shooting remains under investigation.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. Electronic tips may also be sent to Crime Stoppers by texting the word "CASH" along with their message to 274637 or online at www.nashvillecrimestoppers.com. A cash reward is being offered.

Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at 615-259-8072. Follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.