Opry Mills Shooting Victim's Girlfriend Had 2 Stolen Guns: Police

NASHVILLE, TN -- The girlfriend of the 22-year-old man killed in Thursday's shooting at Opry Mills mall had a pair of stolen handguns in her purse, according to Metro Police.

Alexandria Lavender, the 21-year-old girlfriend of Demarco Churchwell, did immediately stop for questioning following the shooting at the massive mall east of downtown Nashville Thursday, investigators said. A witness to the shooting told police Lavender had a gun in her purse.

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In fact, she had two guns, according to detectives: a Glock and a SCCY CPX 9-millimeter, both loaded and both reported stolen earlier this year. Lavender is charged with two counts of theft and weapon possession.

Justin Golson, 22, is charged with criminal homicide and is being held without bail. He's accused of shooting Churchwell during an altercation at the mall, part of what police said was a long-running dispute between the pair. Gunfire outside of the Old Navy at 2:30 Thursday afternoon prompted a huge police response, locking down the mall, the neighboring Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center and closing the McGavock Pike exit.

Police say Golson left the mall and surrendered at a Grand Ole Opry ticket booth where a retired California policeman was buying tickets. The former cop took possession of Golson's gun - a Glock .380, which was also reported stolen, police say - and told the man to lie on the ground until MNPD arrived.

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