Renewed Safety Demands Emerge After Mill Creek Greenway Attack Near Site of Alyssa Lokits’ 2024 Killing

A second reported assault revives concerns about security on one of Nashville’s busiest trails

A reported attack on the Mill Creek Greenway in Antioch has renewed public focus on safety along Nashville’s greenway network, more than a year after 34-year-old Alyssa Lokits was killed on the same trail.

The latest incident occurred around 9:15 a.m. Friday at Antioch Park, when a woman walking on the Mill Creek Greenway was approached from behind by an unknown man. Police said the woman fought him off, ran to the parking lot, and called 911 from her car. She suffered minor injuries and did not require medical treatment. Investigators have asked the public to provide information that could help identify the suspect.

What is known about the 2024 killing that reshaped local safety discussions

Lokits was fatally shot on October 14, 2024, while exercising on the Mill Creek Greenway near Old Hickory Boulevard. Police said witnesses heard her yelling for help before gunfire. She was found near a wood line and later died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

An arrest was made less than 24 hours later. Police charged Paul S. Park, 29, in connection with the killing, describing the case as an apparent stranger attack. Investigators said video and witness information helped identify a suspect vehicle, and detectives reported that the suspect was seen returning to a gray BMW sedan with visible scratches and blood on his clothing.

In 2025, prosecutors pursued upgraded charges. Park was later indicted on multiple felony counts, including first-degree premeditated murder and attempted rape, in connection with Lokits’ death.

Policy and policing changes now under scrutiny

The latest assault has intensified calls to evaluate how Nashville patrols and monitors greenways that traverse parks, neighborhoods, and wooded corridors. In December 2024, Metro Parks Police announced that two existing officers would be assigned to patrol greenways, alongside efforts to fill open positions.

Community responses since Lokits’ death have also included organized runs and safety initiatives intended to increase public presence on the trails and encourage outdoor activity while addressing risk. Lokits’ family and supporters have established a nonprofit organization focused on women’s outdoor safety and have worked with Metro Parks on education and infrastructure discussions.

Practical questions raised by the new case

• Whether patrol staffing levels match the size and usage of the greenway system
• How quickly incidents can be reported and responded to across trail entrances and parking areas
• What environmental design measures—such as sightlines, lighting, cameras, and signage—are feasible in different segments

Police are seeking information that could identify the suspect in the most recent Mill Creek Greenway attack.

Both investigations have underscored how greenways combine heavy public use with stretches that can be isolated—conditions that can complicate prevention, surveillance, and rapid response.