RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. — Two suspects connected to the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Ja’Quan Nolan in Bellevue have been arrested by Rutherford County Sheriff’s deputies, according to information released Wednesday by the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD).
The investigation revealed that Nolan’s own cousin, Marquez Reed, 19, allegedly shot him in the back of the head while attempting to fire into an apartment at the Forest Park Apartments on Highway 70 South in Bellevue on October 18. Authorities say Reed is now charged with criminal homicide, felony reckless endangerment, and use of a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony.
Reed was already in custody at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center on unrelated auto burglary charges stemming from an October 24 arrest. He will be transferred to Davidson County to face additional charges related to the homicide in the coming days.
Also charged in the case are Malichi Cummins, 21, and a 16-year-old male, both facing attempted murder and felony reckless endangerment charges for firing multiple rounds into an occupied apartment where an adult man, woman, and four small children were present.
Detectives report that Nolan, Reed, Cummins, and the juvenile suspect were together prior to the shooting when Nolan became involved in an argument with a man standing on the apartment’s balcony. Gunfire erupted soon after, with all three suspects firing weapons. Video evidence and witness statements identified Reed as the person who fatally shot Nolan. Investigators say Cummins was seen removing a gun from Nolan as the suspects fled the scene.
The adult male who was shot in the chest sustained a graze wound and was treated and released from a local hospital.
Cummins was also taken into custody by Rutherford County authorities on a separate theft charge on October 24. He, too, will be booked into Metro Nashville Jail soon. The 16-year-old suspect was arrested in Montgomery County on Tuesday and has since been transferred to Nashville Juvenile Detention.
Authorities also noted that Reed had an extensive prior criminal history. He was arrested in Nashville last September on nine charges, including auto theft, possession of burglary tools, unlawful gun possession, drug possession, and multiple counts of evading arrest. Reed pleaded guilty to auto theft on May 8, 2025, receiving a two-year probated sentence, while the remaining charges were dismissed.
As of Wednesday night, both Cummins and Reed remain behind bars at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center in Murfreesboro. Meanwhile in Nashville, detectives continue to investigate the case and additional evidence is being reviewed.
FULL RELEASE FROM METRO NASHVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT: The investigation into the October 18th fatal shooting of 17-year-old Ja’Quan Nolan in the parking lot of Forest Park Apartments on Highway 70 South in Bellevue shows that Nolan’s own cousin shot him in the back of the head while attempting to fire into one of the apartments.
An arrest warrant has been issued charging the cousin, Marquez Reed, 19, with criminal homicide, felony reckless endangerment and use of a gun in the commission of a dangerous felony. Reed is currently jailed in Rutherford County on two counts of auto burglary stemming from an October 24th arrest. He will be booked in Nashville in the near future. Also being charged in this case are Malichi Cummins, 21, and a 16-year-old. Cummins and the teen are each facing attempted murder and felony reckless endangerment charges for firing at the apartment in which an adult man, adult woman, and four small children resided.
The investigation to this point shows that Nolan, Reed, Cummins and the 16-year-old were together when Nolan became engaged in an argument with the adult male apartment resident who was standing on the balcony. Gunfire then erupted, with Reed, Cummins and the 16-year-old shooting multiple rounds. Through video evidence and witness accounts, Reed was identified as the shooter who fatally wounded Nolan. Cummins is seen removing a gun from Nolan as the three ran away.
The adult male who was on the balcony received a graze wound to his chest and was treated/released from a local hospital.
Cummins was also taken into custody in Rutherford County on October 24th on a theft charge. He will be booked into the Metro jail in the near future.
The 16-year-old was arrested in Montgomery County Tuesday and has been booked into Nashville juvenile detention.
Marquez Reed was arrested in Nashville last September on nine charges including possession of burglary tools, auto theft, misdemeanor drug possession, two counts of felony evading arrest, misdemeanor evading arrest, leaving the scene of a crash, unlawful gun possession, and driving without a license. He pleaded guilty to auto theft on May 8th of this year and received a two-year probated sentence. The remaining eight charges were dismissed.
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