CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A new arrest has been made in a series of highway car-to-car shootings that took place in March.
On March 2 at about 1:25 p.m., witnesses told Clarksville Police they saw a black sedan pull up to a traffic signal at Fort Campbell Boulevard and Lady Marion Drive. Someone rolled down the window and fired shots at the vehicle beside it, according to court documents. The two vehicles exchanged gunfire.
The witnesses’ vehicle, which was next to the two vehicles exchanging gunfire, was hit several times, nearly striking both occupants. The first shooter’s car turned right onto Lady Marion, and, by the way the car was moving, it appeared that the driver had been shot.
Responding to a 911 call in the 200 block of Sherwood Drive, officers found the car, a black BMW 235, with bullet holes on the driver’s side. A trail of blood led from the car into the house. Inside the BMW, police found a spent 10 mm bullet and casing. In the house, police found two hidden firearms, one being a Glock 20, 10 mm handgun with blood on it, the documents said.
At Tennova Healthcare-Clarksville, officers interviewed Damian J. Taylor, who had a gunshot wound to the arm. He said he was the only occupant of the car.
In the August term of the Grand Jury, Taylor was indicted on charges of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, evading arrest and several gun possession violations. He was arrested Sept. 11 on the charges.
Shooting on Riverside Drive
Two days later, on March 4, at about 11:35 p.m., one man and three juveniles were in a vehicle that crashed at Riverside Drive and Main Street, according to court documents. The victims told police they were driving on Riverside when a vehicle approached on the driver’s side and someone from the vehicle fired at them, causing them to crash. Police found multiple bullet holes in the hood and windshield of the victims’ car.
In August, Jared Y. Lazu Candelaria was charged in the case. He admitted that he was the driver of the vehicle the shots were fired from, and he knew what was going to happen, according to the court records. Four spent shell casings were recovered from inside Candelaria’s vehicle.
The July term of the Grand Jury issued indictments against Candelaria and two other suspects, Jeremiah Michael McAnelly II, 19, and Ty’as Monyell, 21, on 12 counts each:
- Attempted first-degree murder, four victims.
- Weapons possession during a dangerous felony, four victims.
- Aggravated assault (causing fear of death), four victims.
There has been no indication from police or court records that the highway shootings are connected.