Nurse killed in stabbing at Wedgewood condo; police searching for suspect
WSMV-News
Reported by Kim St. Onge
Reported by Briona Arradondo
16 March 2017  (Updated)

NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -
Metro police are searching for the man who fatally stabbed a woman inside her Wedgewood condo on Tuesday morning.

Police said the stabbing happened around 5:40 a.m. at the Wedgewood Park condos, which are near Interstate 65.

The victim, 23-year-old Tiffany Ferguson, was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she later died.

Police said Ferguson’s roommate heard screaming and awoke to find the front door of the apartment open and Ferguson suffering from stab wounds in her bedroom.

After reviewing surveillance video, police said a man was going around the building looking for open vehicles and open apartment doors. He entered Ferguson’s condo through an unlocked door and began searching for valuables.

Police said the suspect left with items from the condo at least once. He put them down before going back inside. At that point, there was some type of confrontation and Ferguson was stabbed.

Officials said Ferguson was a critical care nurse at Saint Thomas West Hospital.

Investigators still on scene here at Wedgewood Park Apartments on this now deadly stabbing investigation. Feb 28, 2017  Kim St. Onge

Neighbors say this is a safe and quiet area and were shocked to see crime scene tape surrounding their complex.

"I hadn't heard anything about what had happened, and nothing has happened like this in the time that we've lived here, so it is a kind of new thing, but we'll hope for the best for everybody," said neighbor Mark McEntire.

At the time of the stabbing, the suspect was wearing a zip hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans with apparent holes in the front and rear knee area, and boots. Police said he was last seen walking down Ridley Boulevard.

Police recovered a weapon but could not share any details about it at this time.


Christopher McLawhorn: facts you need to know
Heavy.com
By Paul Farrell
09 March 2017

Christopher McLawhorn’s mug shot. (Nashville Police Department)


Police in Nashville announced on the night of March 8 an arrest had been made in the heinous murder of Tiffany Ferguson. The suspect has been named as Christopher McLawhorn, 24. Authorities believe that Tiffany Ferguson, a native of Alabama, 22, was the victim of a “random act of violence.” The suspect had been seen in the area on the night of the murder, February 28, trying to break into cars.

(Facebook)

McLawhorn was first picked up by police on March 6. He is facing charges of criminal homicide and aggravated burglary. Under Tennessee law, if found guilty on the criminal homicide charges, McLawhorn could be facing the death penalty.

The suspect is homeless. When he was first picked up had two bottles of liquor and marijuana on his person, reports WKRN. The drug possession allowed officers to hold him in custody.

WSMV reports that McLawhorn has previous arrests for theft, public intoxication and failure to be booked.

Fox Nashville reports that the public intoxication arrest took place in September 2015. The station says that the affidavit in that case accused McLawhorn of “walking into the street and using fences to help him walk.”

Although homeless, McLawhorn was known to stay with a friend on 14th Avenue North in the city.

Police have said that surveillance video from the area shows the suspect attempting to get into cars that were parked close to where Ferguson was murdered. There were no signs of forced entry. After the suspect entered the apartment, some kind of confrontation occurred. The suspect also stole some things from her apartment. The Tennessean reports that the suspect took some items, left them outside and went back to the apartment, that’s when the confrontation took place.

When she was discovered Ferguson was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where she was pronounced dead. A murder weapon was retrieved but investigators haven’t said exactly what it was.

Metro Police Spokesperson Don Aaron has described the death as a “random act of violence.”

NBC Nashville reports that the apartment is in the Wedgwood Park condos complex close to Interstate 65. A neighbor, Mark McEntire, told the station, “I hadn’t heard anything about what had happened, and nothing has happened like this in the time that we’ve lived here, so it is a kind of new thing, but we’ll hope for the best for everybody.”

The Tennessean reports that prior to her death, Ferguson had been out with friends watching a band.


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