Mt. Juliet Police search for hit-and-run suspect

MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN) — A search is underway for a suspect who fled a hit-and-run crash in Mt. Juliet Friday afternoon.

The four-vehicle crash happened on South Mt. Juliet Road near Graves Crossing at 4:30 p.m.

The suspect has been identified as 21-year-old Donte Bell, Jr. of Nashville. Bell fled from the scene of the crash and abandoned his vehicle on Central Pike near John Wright Road.

Mt. Juliet officers located the abandoned vehicle and with the assistance of K-9 Citron, conducted a search of the immediate area.

Inside the vehicle, officers found handgun magazines and marijuana, according to a release. Investigators believe Bell was picked up by an unknown individual and taken back to Nashville.

In October 2021, Bell was arrested in Nashville for shooting his girlfriend and leaving her in parking lot with a broken leg.

During the arrest, officers found a loaded semi-automatic pistol in his front pants pocket and $1,549 in cash. Officers searched his Jeep and found another loaded pistol, three bags of marijuana and a digital scale, according to investigators.

Bell is now wanted for Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Injury, Driving a Suspended License, Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Mt. Juliet Police Department at (615) 754-2550. Anonymous tips can be provided by calling (615) 754-TIPS (8477) or through the Mt. Juliet Police Department website at http://www.mjpd.org.