Nashville teen apartment rape suspect arrested in Louisville after New Year’s Eve attack investigation

Arrest follows warrants tied to Dec. 31 alleged assault in Millwood Drive apartment

A man sought by Nashville investigators in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl inside her apartment on New Year’s Eve has been arrested in Louisville, Kentucky. The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Mena Awad, was taken into custody Friday afternoon at a hotel, after Nashville detectives developed information indicating he had traveled out of state.

The case centers on an early-morning incident reported on December 31, 2025, at an apartment on Millwood Drive in Nashville. Investigators allege the suspect entered the victim’s unlocked apartment at about 7 a.m. and assaulted the girl in her bedroom. Police have said the victim reported she did not know the man and that he was carrying a gun and a knife.

Charges and timeline

Arrest warrants were issued the week of the incident’s public release, charging Awad with aggravated rape, aggravated assault and aggravated burglary. Police made a public request for help locating the suspect on January 13, 2026, describing him as believed to be unhoused and known to frequent the area around Millwood Drive and Murfreesboro Pike.

Investigators said the identification of the suspect stemmed from the review of surveillance footage from the area. The arrest in Kentucky came three days after police publicly requested information on his whereabouts.

• Dec. 31, 2025: Alleged assault reported in a Millwood Drive apartment around 7 a.m.

• Jan. 13, 2026: Police publicly seek help locating the suspect; warrants already issued.

• Jan. 16, 2026: Suspect arrested at a Louisville hotel; return to Nashville pending.

Next procedural steps

With the arrest taking place outside Tennessee, the case is expected to proceed through interstate transfer procedures before the defendant can appear in Nashville court on the pending charges. Police said the suspect’s return to Nashville was pending following the Louisville arrest.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, help is available through confidential crisis services, including the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-4673) and local victim advocacy organizations.

The allegations in the warrants remain unproven. Prosecutors will carry the burden of proof in court, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until convicted.