NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – Police are still searching Tuesday for a man who is accused of killing a 46-year-old Belle Meade business owner Monday morning with a hatchet.
Joel Paavola was attacked while he was assisting clients in a workout routine around 7 a.m. Monday at Balance Training, a personal training studio on Harding Pike across from Post Road.
According to police, Domenic Micheli, who was fired from the facility last year, was seen parking his vehicle in the parking garage below Belle Meade Galleria and entering the business.
“[He was] pacing around apparently maybe trying to determine what he was going to do,” said Metro Nashville Police spokesperson Don Aaron.
Witnesses reported Micheli was armed with a hatchet and another bladed object and struck Paavolamultiple times before fleeing with his weapons in a silver Toyota – possibly a Prius or Yaris.
“Micheli brutally, savagely attacked Paavola at the front of the business,” Aaron said. “It’s just a senseless, violent, brutal attack this morning on Mr. Paavola as he was there in the business.”
Police said Paavola, 46, died en route to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
During the course of the investigation, detectives learned Micheli has traveled outside of Tennessee in recent times. He traveled to Oregon in August and Washington D.C. in April.
Police said Micheli was arrested by the U.S. Secret Service on April 27 for driving his car to a checkpoint near the White House and refusing to move.
According to documents obtained from the U.S. Department of Justice, Micheli was released on May 2, with the condition that he must live in a Washington D.C. halfway house pre-trial.
Police believe he could still be driving the silver Toyota and he is considered dangerous. Anyone with information is urged to call police at 615-74-CRIME.
