Drugs and guns recovered after East Nashville New Year’s shooting prompts arrests and renewed rental scrutiny

Police response leads to arrest and seizure of gun, drugs and cash

Metro Nashville Police officers responding to reports of gunfire in East Nashville just after midnight on New Year’s Day recovered a handgun and narcotics after stopping a vehicle leaving the area, authorities said. Investigators also collected more than 93 fired shell casings outside a residence in the 1400 block of Stainback Avenue, a volume of gunfire that neighbors reported as dozens of shots.

Police took 18-year-old William Akins into custody after stopping a gray Honda Civic as multiple people were seen leaving the scene, court records and police statements show. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of a .45-caliber handgun, marijuana and a vacuum-sealed bag of psilocybin mushrooms. Court documents listed the mushrooms at 531.8 grams and marijuana at 59 grams, along with more than $1,200 in cash.

Akins was booked into jail on felony drug and weapons charges. Public reports of the case listed bond amounts in the mid-to-high $30,000 range and described multiple gun- and drug-related counts stemming from the traffic stop and seizure.

Short-term rental identified as location; neighborhood complaints documented

Residents told reporters the gunfire came from a property operating as a short-term rental and described a pattern of disturbances tied to the address, including noise, crowd size and trespassing concerns. City rules governing short-term rental permits were also cited publicly in the aftermath, including provisions that can require repeated violations within a year before a permit can be revoked.

Neighbors described the gunfire as sudden and sustained, raising concerns about the risk to nearby homes and residents.

Broader enforcement context: guns and drugs frequently co-occur in recent Nashville cases

The East Nashville incident is part of a wider pattern in Davidson County in which firearms are routinely recovered alongside narcotics during traffic stops and investigative operations. In recent years, Metro Nashville Police have publicized multiple arrests involving guns, suspected drug distribution quantities, and, in some cases, stolen vehicles or stolen firearms.

In October 2024, police announced the arrest of a 21-year-old following a pursuit in East Nashville that ended with the recovery of two handguns, cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine and pills. In March 2025, detectives reported seizing a stolen handgun and multiple types of narcotics, including fentanyl and counterfeit-style “M30” pills, during a traffic stop.

What investigators track next

• Ballistics analysis of the recovered shell casings, including whether they can be linked to other shootings.
• Follow-up on who fired the weapons outside the Stainback Avenue property and whether additional suspects are identified.
• Review of property and permitting records tied to the short-term rental location, alongside any documented nuisance or public safety calls.

Police have not publicly reported injuries tied to the New Year’s gunfire in East Nashville. The investigation remains open as detectives work to determine who fired the shots and whether the seized weapon is connected to the casings recovered at the scene.