Nashville’s ‘Most Wanted’ fugitives: Search continues for 8 suspects still at large

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Following a number of arrests over the past few weeks, the Metro Nashville Police Department is still looking to bring a handful of other fugitives into custody.

The police department’s list of “Most Wanted” fugitives is updated every Wednesday on the Criminal Warrants Division’s Facebook page. According to detectives, those featured on the list are often considered to be some of the “most violent” offenders in the city.

Of the suspects on this week’s list, half are wanted for either homicide or charges related to alleged sex crimes. The rest of Nashville’s “Most Wanted” suspects are accused of crimes such as aggravated assault, aggravated robbery and child endangerment.

Some of the people on the list have reportedly been on the run for months, while others are a bit fresher faces. However, the list has aided police in several arrests.

Intelligence gathered by detectives in the police department’s Vehicle Crimes and TITANS units helped authorities track down one of the city’s “Most Wanted” fugitives last week. Tyrone Walker was wanted by police after being identified as a suspect in the Aug. 2021 shooting death of Cecil Holmes Jr.

Investigators spotted Walker getting into a gold Lincoln Navigator on the night of Monday, Aug. 12. Following a short pursuit, Walker reportedly got out of the car and ran but was quickly tackled and taken into custody.

A man who was initially featured on this week’s list was also reported taken into custody out of state. Aaron Shultz was wanted on several charges related to the alleged sexual abuse of a minor, including three counts of statutory rape and one count of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Police also arrested Shirin Sidiqi-Khwaga, who was being sought on multiple outstanding warrants following an Aug. 19 crash in which she was allegedly driving while under the influence of various drugs. Three people, including Sidiqi-Khwaga, her boyfriend and a 2-year-old boy, were injured in the crash.

In total, at least 129 “Most Wanted” fugitives have been taken into custody since the program was started in October 2022. Investigators have largely attributed the program’s success to tips they’ve received from the public.

Below is a list of the suspects who made the police department’s “Most Wanted” list the week of Aug. 21, 2024. There are only eight suspects listed this week due to the recent arrests.

1. Adrian L. Cameron

Adrian Cameron (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

At number one, Adrian Cameron, 19, is considered this week’s “Top Most Wanted” fugitive, according to the MNPD. It’s now been three months since Cameron first appeared at the top of the list. However, police started looking for him in mid-April.

Investigators said Cameron is one of three suspects in the death of 32-year-old rapper Chris King, who was shot and killed just before 2:30 am on Saturday, April 20. King and his friends were allegedly hanging out in an alleyway between Hayes Street and Church Street that night.

Eventually, three other men began interacting with the group. King’s friends told police it started out “cordial,” but after some time, the three suspects allegedly tried to rob them. That’s when gunfire ran out, injuring King and his 29-year-old friend.

Both of them were brought to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, but King did not survive. Cameron, who was out on bond for the 2021 murder of 50-year-old Josh Evans at the time, was identified as a suspect in the shooting only days later.

Officials believe Cameron cut his ankle monitor shortly after the shooting. Cameron had just turned 17 years old when police said he turned himself in for Evans’ murder. Evans was found shot and wrapped in trash bags in the Cumberland River in Sept. 2021.

Cameron was arrested again for gun charges in Rutherford County less than four months after turning himself in for the 2021 murder. He’s now charged with criminal homicide in connection with King’s death, as well as failure to appear.

However, efforts to locate him have been unsuccessful. Anyone with information on Cameron’s whereabouts is asked to contact the MNPD at 615-862-8600 or Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.

2. Lagarrion L. Blacksmith

Lagarrion Blacksmith (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Lagarrion Blacksmith, 35, has been at the top of Nashville’s “Most Wanted” list for close to nine months as police continue to try to track him down.

He was initially added to the list on Nov. 29, 2023, after investigators said they were able to connect him to a deadly shooting that took place outside a Dickerson Pike bar last year.

Officers found 35-year-old Chancellor Eddins lying on the ground just outside of Trvth Lounge on Feb. 18, 2023. He had been shot and later died at the scene. Another man who had also been hit by the gunfire was able to give officers an account of what happened.

According to police, the injured man told them he and Eddins had gotten into an argument with the suspect inside of the bar. Then, shots were fired as they left the location. At the time, the identity of the alleged shooter was unclear.

Months later, investigators announced Blacksmith had been identified as a suspect. On Nov. 22, 2023, officials said judgment warrants had been issued against Blacksmith for criminal homicide, attempted homicide, and felon in possession of a handgun.

However, efforts to locate him have reportedly been unsuccessful.

3. Ladonte J. Groves

Ladonte Groves (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Ladonte Groves, 24, was added back to the list on April 3 after first being featured among Nashville’s “Most Wanted” on Aug. 16, 2023. Police said Groves has since been indicted by a grand jury on multiple charges related to alleged sex crimes.

The charges against him include two counts of rape, two counts of sexual battery and one count of domestic assault. Authorities said Groves was last seen in the East Nashville area. However, efforts to locate him have been unsuccessful.

4. Adrian Abernathy

Adrian Abernathy (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Adrian Abernathy, 31, is believed to have been behind the wheel of a stolen car in a deadly October 2022 crash on the Rosa L. Parks Boulevard exit ramp from I-65 North.

Abernathy has outstanding warrants for vehicular homicide, three counts of aggravated assault, felon in possession of a weapon, theft of a motor vehicle, theft of a firearm, reckless endangerment and making a false report.

According to police, Abernathy initially said he was a backseat passenger in the stolen Lincoln Navigator SUV. However, over the course of the investigation, detectives determined the seating positions were reversed, and Abernathy was the one driving the car.

Authorities said he was traveling over 100 mph shortly before the crash, which killed 29-year-old Todd Bryant of Antioch.

Abernathy has been featured on the “Most Wanted” list several times since early February 2023. He was added back to the list on May 1 after last being featured in November. Officials said he was last seen in Hermitage.

5. Magic E. Johnson

Magic E. Johnson (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Magic Johnson, 36, is wanted on outstanding warrants for two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault by strangulation and felon in possession of a weapon, according to officials.

Court records show Johnson has an extensive criminal history dating back to 2006. He has previously been convicted of charges such as disorderly conduct, misdemeanor evading judgment, aggravated robbery, assault and multiple order of protection violations.

Johnson was added to the list on July 31. However, efforts to locate him have been unsuccessful.

6. Quierra C. Spear

Quierra C. Spear (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Quierra Spear, 27, is wanted on multiple outstanding warrants from an incident in which she fired gunshots from within a vehicle, according to authorities.

The charges against her include two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, reckless endangerment and vandalism. Detectives said Spear, who was added to the “Most Wanted” list on Aug. 7, was last seen in the West Nashville area.

7. John R. Etter

John R. Etter III (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

John Etter III, 47, was added back to Nashville’s list of “Most Wanted” fugitives on Aug. 7 after last being featured in February. The first time he ever appeared on the list was Jan. 24. According to officials, Etter still has not been located.

He is wanted on outstanding warrants for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated child endangerment involving a child between 9 and 17 years old, child endangerment and failure to appear. Etter’s last location remains unknown.

8. Joshua R. Starkey

Joshua R. Starkey (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Joshua Starkey, 19, is among some of the youngest suspects to ever appear on Nashville’s “Most Wanted” list. Police said Starkey is wanted for one count of aggravated robbery with a weapon or object. He was added to the list on July 10. His last known location was in Hermitage.

Anyone with information on any of the suspects listed is asked to contact the MNPD at 615-862-8600 or Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.