Two teenage men have been charged in connection with the death of college basketball player Andre Bell, who was fatally shot in January.
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department announced in a press release on Monday, June 15, that Brayden Carter and Damarion Coleman had been arrested in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on multiple criminal charges, including first-degree murder.
Carter, 19, was arrested by TITANS Unit detectives during a “vehicle jam” on Melodic Way in Murfreesboro. Detectives recovered a pistol in the car at the time of his arrest, per the release.
Meanwhile, Coleman, 18, was arrested at his home in Murfreesboro by Murfreesboro Police SWAT officers.
Bell, 20, was a sophomore at Fisk University at the time of his death. He was studying business administration and was a student athlete who played for the school’s basketball team.
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department confirmed that Bell died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on January 12 following a fatal shooting.
Bell was leaving a gymnastics event with two friends at fairgrounds in Nashville when they drove onto the interstate in Bell’s car to head back to campus. The passengers in the car noted they saw a “dark sedan” pull up beside them before Bell was shot.
An investigation was launched into the shooting, and detectives learned that “the motive for the gunfire was jealousy,” according to the MNPD press release.
“Carter’s girlfriend was a member of the gymnastics team,” the press release stated. “It has been reported that he did not like other young men talking to her.”
Carter and Coleman were allegedly at the fairgrounds on the night of the shooting, and it’s believed that they targeted Bell and his two friends with “the intent of scaring the basketball team to stay away from the girlfriend.” Police added that they came to the conclusion after using “extensive cellphone data analysis.”
Carter is “facing a grand jury indictment charging him with first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder and three counts of using a gun in the commission of a dangerous felony,” according to the press release. His bond has been set at $250,000.
Meanwhile, Coleman is “facing the same charges in Davidson County Juvenile Court. He will be held pending a detention hearing,” according to police. While Coleman is currently a legal adult, he was 17 years old at the time of the shooting.
It is not currently clear whether Carter or Coleman have entered pleas or retained legal counsel following their arrests.
The investigation into the case remains ongoing.
