Crime
26-Year-Old Jovien Smith Opens Fire on Mother and Five Children in Madison, 4-Year-Old Girl Killed
MADISON, TN – A Davenport, Iowa man is in custody following a horrific shooting in a Nashville suburb that claimed the life of a young child and left multiple family members wounded.
Authorities say 26-year-old Jovien Smith is being held on a $2.6 million bond after he allegedly shot his girlfriend and four of her five children late Saturday night during a visit to Tennessee.
The incident occurred on Westchester Drive in Madison, where Smith and his partner—a 41-year-old woman from Illinois—were traveling in a Dodge minivan with her five children as part of a weekend family visit.
According to Metro Nashville Police, the couple began arguing inside the vehicle while driving.
At some point during the escalating altercation, Smith reportedly threw the woman’s cellphone out the window and attempted to wrestle control of the steering wheel, apparently trying to cause a crash.
The woman managed to pull the minivan over safely to the roadside. It was then, police say, that Smith produced a firearm and opened fire, shooting the woman multiple times at close range.
Despite her injuries, she was able to flee the vehicle and run toward nearby homes seeking help.
Tragically, Smith then turned the gun on the children. Four of the five juveniles in the van were shot. All victims were transported to Vanderbilt Pediatrics Children’s Hospital, where a 4-year-old girl succumbed to her injuries.
A 7-year-old and a 1-year-old remain in critical condition, while the condition of the fifth child has not been disclosed publicly.
After firing at the children, Smith allegedly pursued his injured partner on foot as she sought assistance.
Officers from the Madison Police Precinct responded swiftly to 911 calls and took Smith into custody at the scene without further incident.
The woman was airlifted to Skyline Medical Center, where she remains hospitalized with serious but stable injuries.
Smith now faces a lengthy list of charges, including:
- One count of felony murder
- Five counts of attempted murder
- Three counts of aggravated assault
- One count of aggravated robbery
Investigators continue to work on gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive beyond the reported domestic dispute, and no prior criminal history has been publicly disclosed at this time.
The case has deeply shaken the local community, with law enforcement and child advocacy groups expressing outrage and grief over the violent attack against a mother and her children.
Crime
16-year-old Khyon Smith-Tate found shot to death inside Chipotle bathroom on edge of Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA — A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot inside the bathroom of a Chipotle restaurant near Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia on Monday afternoon, police said, as students and staff returned for the first day of the Spring 2026 semester.
The shooting occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m. inside the Chipotle located in the 1100 block of West Montgomery Avenue, on the ground floor of The View at Montgomery apartment complex. The building is situated near Temple University’s Student Center and TECH Center.
Police later identified the victim as Khyon Smith-Tate, a North Philadelphia resident. Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said Smith-Tate was found with a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at 5:24 p.m.
Temple University President John Fry and Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police Jennifer Griffin issued a joint statement following the incident:
“The loss of life to gun violence is a profound tragedy, and there are no words that can make sense of it. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and loved ones.”
According to investigators, Smith-Tate and another minor entered the restaurant and requested access to the restroom. Chief Inspector Small said the shooting is believed to have occurred inside the bathroom.
Moments later, employees discovered Smith-Tate suffering from a gunshot wound. Police recovered one spent shell casing from a semiautomatic weapon inside the restroom.
Although the victim’s last known address was approximately eight blocks from the scene, authorities have not indicated what brought him to the location or what led to the shooting.
At the time of the incident, the restaurant was crowded, and multiple individuals inside the business were detained briefly for questioning. However, police said they have not yet obtained any statements from witnesses who reported hearing a gunshot.
A person of interest was taken into custody several blocks from the scene shortly after the shooting, but Chief Inspector Small said that individual’s involvement remains unclear.
As of Tuesday, police confirmed that no arrests have been made and no motive has been established.
Investigators believe Smith-Tate entered the restroom with another minor, though the whereabouts of that individual remain unknown.
Police are also seeking information about three possible suspects, described as teenagers carrying backpacks.
Chief Inspector Small noted that the area is equipped with numerous surveillance cameras, which detectives are reviewing as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Philadelphia Police Department.