21-year-old Vanderbilt Men’s Basketball Forward Lee Dort reportedly assaulted and strangled his ex-girlfriend, Amani Foster, on the Vanderbilt Campus in the early hours of Sunday morning. Vanderbilt Police responded to a report of screams at 1:14 a.m. coming from a dorm room at McTyeire Hall. Foster told officers that 6’9″ Dort took her cell phone and shoved her against a wall and bedpost in her dorm room. He accused her of lying to him about her location during Thanksgiving and searched her texts and call logs on her phone. He says he discovered she was with someone else on Thanksgiving night. He then reportedly gripped her neck after she slid down onto the bed. Officers documented red marks and scratches on the victim. Dort initially fled the scene but was located at Memorial Gymnasium, where he was questioned about the incident. Vanderbilt Spokesperson Jacob Bell confirms Dort has been suspended from the basketball program pending the outcome of investigations by both the criminal justice system and the university.
Tag: aggravated assault
Kevin McDowell assaults girlfriend, says he would “shoot her and anyone else who came to the apartment”
30-year-old Kevin McDowell was booked on an outstanding warrant from October 16th when his girlfriend went to the police department to report that a few days prior, she was assaulted by him. Heidi Martin advised that McDowell had slapped her across the face and strangled her so she couldn’t scream for help. She stated that they had argued about a credit card earlier in the day. McDowell then lunged for her phone, knocking her to the ground and the glasses off her face. She added that he then placed her in a headlock, once again taking her breath for trying to call 911. The assault didn’t stop there; McDowell dug his elbow into her neck before strangling her with both hands while she begged for him to let her go. McDowell told Heidi that if she called the police, he would “shoot her and anyone else who came to the apartment.” Heidi secretly texted her friend to arrange an Uber for her to get to the airport and to call 911. When Kevin realized what Heidi had done, he threw a laptop at her. Authorities advised Heidi to go to the police station to make a report. She told officers she feared for her life and was flying to a different state in the morning to get away from McDowell. While speaking with officers, McDowell sent her a message saying he was sorry. Heidi explained that she had been dating him for six weeks and was interested in an order of protection.
Man says Filip Cukic brutally beat him in downtown Nashville
23-year-old Murfreesboro man Filip Cukic and another man were in a verbal altercation with a third person near 3rd & Broadway just before 3 a.m. Saturday. Officers are flagged down as the altercation turned physical. Corbin Felts and Nathaniel O’Neill both witnessed the escalating fight, as the pair began to brutally beat the victim, Eugene Buckley. The two witnesses pulled the two assailants away from the victim as they punched and kicked him in the head. The victim, who had a major injury to his face, stated he had confronted two men who were harassing a woman, and they brutally attacked him. The victim declined to press charges, and Filip was taken into custody and charged with disorderly conduct.
Luis Aguilar-Mejia brutally assaults citizen in downtown Nashville
23-year-old tourist Luis Aguilar-Mejia and another man were in a verbal altercation with a third person near 3rd & Broadway just before 3 a.m. Saturday. Officers are flagged down as the altercation turned physical. Corbin Felts and Nathaniel O’Neill both witnessed the escalating fight, as the pair began to brutally beat the victim, Eugene Buckley. The two witnesses pulled the two assailants away from the victim as they punched and kicked him in the head. The victim, who had a major injury to his face, stated he had confronted two men who were harassing a woman, and they brutally attacked him. The victim declined to press charges, and Luis was taken into custody and charged with disorderly conduct.
Samika Cohen charged with aggravated assault after shooting at husband; “Go ahead and shoot me!”
48-year-old Samika Cohen was jailed Tuesday afternoon after an argument with her husband turned violent at their home on Waterford Way. Samika told police that her husband, Jameel Cohen, left for a short time after an argument, and when he came back inside, he head-butted her, causing her upper lip to swell. As he was walking away, Samika pulled out a revolver. Jameel said ‘Go ahead and shoot me.” As he walked toward the front door, Samika fired one shot, striking the stairs in front of her. Jameel wasn’t in the direct line of fire but was in the immediate vicinity. Samika told police she was only firing a “warning shot” to keep her husband away. There is video footage of Jameel running out of the home immediately after the shot. According to Samika, before the incident, Jameel had pulled out a shotgun and pointed it at their son Ricky Smith.
George Griffin charged as driver in fireworks assault of couple walking their dog
20-year-old George Griffin was driving the vehicle from which Preston ‘Davis’ Cannon shot large mortar-style fireworks at a couple who were walking their dog on September 15. Keiffer Smith and Leah Langfelder were walking their dog near Scarlet Ridge Drive and Autumn Crossing Way when a vehicle approached them, and fireworks were launched from the vehicle, exploding in their direction. One of the explosions struck Mr. Smith. Interviews and video surveillance revealed Cannon to be the person who shot the fireworks and Griffin as the driver. Elijah Schuerman, a friend of Cannon and Griffin, told officers during an interview that multiple fireworks were thrown from the vehicle before this incident. Griffin was arrested for two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and a fireworks violation on October 26th.
Danmion Eddings wields butter knife toward ex-girlfriend who calls his mother on him
22-year-old Danmion Eddings Jr. got into an argument with Caitlyn Wheeler, the mother of his child, over gas money to put in her vehicle in the wee hours of October 24th. Officers were dispatched to Buena Vista Pike for a call regarding a domestic disturbance and spoke with Wheeler as they arrived. Wheeler told officers that she and Eddings were having a verbal altercation when he started to call her out of her name and stated, “If you hit me, I’m gonna hit you back.” Wheeler reported that Eddings pulled her off the couch and began to hit her in the face and that she took his phone to call his mom to tell her about how he was acting.
Officers were told that Eddings stood over Wheeler and grabbed her by the throat before demanding his phone while wielding a butter knife. Wheeler stated that she then locked herself in a room and that Eddings punched a hole in through the door while she was on the phone with officers. Eddings told officers that the entire argument was over Wheeler wanting money and that he “had enough” before shoving her. Eddings stated that Wheeler was the one who grabbed the knife and that he left the residence after attempting to get his phone back. Police observed markings on Wheeler’s collarbone and throat, as well as a hole in the door, both corroborating with her statements, and determined Eddings to be the primary aggressor. Eddings was taken into custody for aggravated assault.
Skylar Richard assaults mother’s boyfriend with pocket knife
19-year-old Skylar Richard came out of her room yelling after being woken up by an argument between her mom and Dayton Fortenberry, her mom’s boyfriend, on the morning hours of October 23rd. Officers were dispatched to Elm St. for a call of service regarding a domestic disturbance. Fortenberry spoke with officers as they arrived and told them that he and his girlfriend got into an argument that woke up Richard. Fortenberry then stated that Richard came out of her room yelling at him before returning to her room, grabbing a pocket knife and brandishing it. Officers were advised that Fortenberry walked backward out of their house as he was fearful of the possible bodily harm that could be dealt. When Richard was questioned, she confirmed with officers that she was woken up from an argument and that she went to her room to grab a pocket knife after she and Fortenberry exchanged words. Richard admitted that she threw the pocket knife in Fortenberry’s vicinity to incite fear and was taken into custody for aggravated assault.
Abanoub Khalil strangles ex-girlfriend after recording her dancing with her friends
27-year-old Abanoub Khalil began to record his ex-girlfriend dancing at a bar in Nashville with her friends on September 23rd. Khalil threatened to show the recording to her family and proceeded to grab and squeeze her neck. She pushed Khalil away and threw a drink at him to prevent him from further injuring her. Officers observed her neck to be sore, and she had slight difficulty breathing. Khalil was charged with aggravated assault/strangulation on October 24th and booked into jail.
Jonathan Ruiz charged in assault of wife and mother-in-law
25-year-old Jonathan Ruiz was jailed Sunday morning after assaulting his wife and mother-in-law on Amaile Drive. Elena Garcia told police That Jonathan was upset because his wife Paola Garcia had called the police on him earlier that night. Elena heard her daughter yelling for help and entered a room where she witnessed Jonathan strangling her. When she tried to intervene, Jonathan hit her in the mouth, causing it to bleed. He then pushed Paola to the floor and started strangling Elena from behind with his arm, but she was able to scratch his neck and arms to get him to let go. Paola stated that her husband strangled her for a couple of seconds, causing her neck to hurt. Jonathan denied strangling anyone but was placed into custody based on the victim’s statements and injuries.