Police: Roommate dispute leads to fatal shooting

Metro police said a dispute between North Nashville roommates about trying to sell guns led to a fatal shooting Sunday morning.

Mickel “Bud” Phillips, 58, was shot by Ellis Wayne McHaney, 55, at about 6:30 a.m. inside the kitchen of the home they shared at 2404 Seifried St., authorities said. Phillips died soon afterward at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

McHaney was booked into jail just after noon on charges of homicide and use of a firearm by a felon. He is being held on a $1 million bond and is due in court Tuesday.

Police said McHaney reported that the men wanted to sell guns to make money to buy drugs, but got into an argument. Police recovered three handguns, including the one they believe was used in the shooting.

Longtime neighbor Cynthia Wilson, 59, said the men were childhood friends who had lived on the street for several years. She said Phillips was a painter.

“He was good people. All of them were,” she said. “We’ve never had this kind of problem on our street.”

Police cordoned off the two-story home, which resembles a duplex from the outside but was converted into a single home. County property records show the home is owned by relatives of the arrested man.

Authorities said McHaney has prior convictions for negligent homicide and cocaine possession. Court records show he accumulated several other charges dating back more than 20 years.

Phillips also had a criminal record, including for use of drug paraphernalia, burglary, and shoplifting, although he had not been charged in Davidson County since 2009.

Relatives of the men could not be reached.

Reach Tony Gonzalez at 615-259-8089 and on Twitter @tgonzalez.