NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Torey Ward, a 45-year-old man from Atlanta, Georgia, has died following a physical altercation outside a downtown Nashville bar early Sunday morning. The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department is investigating the incident as homicide detectives work to establish the circumstances surrounding the fatal confrontation.

According to police, the fight occurred at approximately 2:30 a.m. Sunday outside a bar on 2nd Avenue North in downtown Nashville.

Investigators said the confrontation began after an encounter involving Ward’s girlfriend and Keith King Jr., 37, of Nashville, inside the bar while Ward was in the bathroom.

According to the preliminary account provided by police, Ward’s girlfriend had an encounter with King while Ward was away in the bathroom.

When Ward returned, an argument reportedly broke out among those involved. Bar staff subsequently removed the individuals from the establishment.

The dispute continued outside, where Ward and King became involved in a physical fight, according to investigators.

Police have not released additional details about the initial disagreement or what specifically prompted the confrontation to escalate.

Investigators said witnesses reported that King punched Ward and placed him in a chokehold during the fight outside the bar.

King reportedly told police that he acted out of fear for his own safety. His account of the incident remains part of the investigation, and authorities have not publicly announced a final determination regarding the circumstances of the confrontation.

Ward’s girlfriend also provided investigators with information about the events inside and outside the bar.

According to police, she said she witnessed Ward strike King several times in the chest while they were still inside the establishment.

She further reported that she attempted to intervene during the fight outside but was injured by a woman who was with King’s group of friends.

Authorities have not released further details about the woman’s identity or whether she faces any potential charges.

Following the altercation, Ward was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he later died.

The Medical Examiner’s Office is expected to determine his official cause of death. Until those findings are available, authorities have not publicly confirmed the precise medical cause of Ward’s death or explained the role each reported action played in the fatal outcome.

Ward was 45 years old and lived in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department’s homicide detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Ward’s death.

Investigators plan to present their findings to the District Attorney’s Office for review. According to the information provided, no arrest had been announced following the fight.

Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether charges will be filed or whether additional individuals may face legal consequences as the investigation continues.

The case remains under investigation as detectives review witness accounts and work to determine what happened during the confrontation.