NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) -- A young father was gunned down in West Nashville Saturday night while he was helping his girlfriend move. The shooter is still out there, but the victim's family hopes that changes soon.
According to the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), 25-year-old Christopher Rhodes died at the hospital after the shooting, which took place at approximately 10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17 in the 5800 block of Maudina Avenue.
People close to Rhodes called his death senseless.
"They have taken Kyson's father from him, from me, from his brothers, his sisters, his dad, his cousins," Rhodes' mother, Angela Merrell, said. "Everybody loved Chris, and we're going to miss him so much."
Authorities said Rhodes was moving furniture into his apartment with his girlfriend when they were approached by the suspect in the parking lot. Due to previous issues between Rhodes in the suspect, they reportedly got in a fight. After that, witnesses told officers they heard multiple gunshots and saw the suspect flee the scene in a car.
"He was helping the girl he was going with move," Merrell said. "I want to say he was moving into a new home because he was staying with her."
Merrell recalled getting the call every parent dreads: "I couldn't believe it. I was in shock."
Rhodes' 10th grade teacher, Amanda Clarke, said he left an impression on everyone and they remained close.
"He just had a light in his eyes. His smile would light up a room," Clarke said.
That's why she set up a GoFundMe for Rhodes' family.
"We want to give him the funeral that he deserves," Clarke said. "The shooting was senseless, the violence...His 3-year-old had to witness [the shooting], and no child should have to witness that, so we'd like to get counseling."
"He had one goal in mind, and that was to be the best dad that he could be. From the time his son was born until Chris sadly took his last breath, he wanted to be a dad to Kyson," Merrell said.
Even though Merrell doesn't know who shot her son, she said police do. However, MNPD said nobody has been arrested in connection with this case.
If you have any information about this deadly shooting, call Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.