Vanderbilt suspends 3 football players indefinitely after shooting at Nashville Target

Adam Sparks | The Tennessean

Show Caption Hide Caption Nashville Target shooting: What we know What we know about the double shooting in the parking lot of a Nashville Target that injured two Vanderbilt University football players.

Vanderbilt football coach Derek Mason has indefinitely suspended three players who were involved in Monday night's shooting at a Target store in Nashville, which occurred when they tried to recover one of the player’s stolen cell phone.

Sophomore wide receiver Donaven Tennyson, redshirt freshman cornerback Frank Coppet and freshman safety Tae Daley have been suspended from all football activities, according to a statement from Vanderbilt University on Wednesday.

The team is currently in summer workouts, and its preseason practice begins in the first week of August.

Daley was shot in the leg and and Coppet suffered birdshot wounds to his arms in the shooting, which happened shortly before 9 p.m. Monday at the Target store on White Bridge Pike. No charges have been filed against the players.

Tennyson, who is from Richmond, Va., was among six true freshmen to play for Vanderbilt last season, and he was on the SEC Academic Honor Roll. He played in eight games in 2016, rushing for 28 yards on reverses as a slot receiver. Tennyson’s role was projected to expand in 2017 as a multi-talented runner, receiver and kick returner.

Coppet, a defensive back from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., took a redshirt as a freshman in the 2016 season. He is set to compete in Vanderbilt’s defensive secondary in the upcoming season.

Daley was among Vanderbilt’s top prospects in its 2017 signing class. A safety from Warner Robbins, Ga., he signed a scholarship with the Commodores in December and enrolled early in January. He took part in spring practice as a freshman, and he is set to make his debut this fall, most likely on special teams.

On Monday, 19-year-old Tennyson offered his iPhone 6S for sale on the internet and met with a prospective buyer. Tennyson told police that his phone was then stolen when the thief drove off with it.

According to the Metro police report, Tennyson said he saw his phone offered for sale on the same website later Monday night. So he created a fake account, requested to purchase the phone, and arranged to meet the seller in the Target parking lot on White Bridge Road.

Tennyson went to the parking lot with Daley and Coppet in Daley’s red Toyota Corolla. They brought a pellet gun with them, which is not illegal unless used in an illegal act.

When the three football players pulled up next to the seller’s gray Buick sedan, Coppet got out with the pellet gun in his hand. A man in the Buick shot at them with an actual handgun and another man in the car fired a shotgun.

Daley was shot in the leg, and his Corolla was stolen. Coppet suffered birdshot wounds in his arm. On Tuesday, Vanderbilt’s initial statement said the players’ injuries are “not life-threatening.”

As of Wednesday, police had not yet identified the suspects in the Buick, which is a four-door sedan with tinted windows and damage to both passenger doors.

Anyone with information about the suspects or the case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. Electronic tips may also be sent to Crime Stoppers by texting the word "CASH" along with a message to 274637 or online at www.nashvillecrimestoppers.com.

Natalie Alund contributed to this report. Reach Adam Sparks at asparks@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter @AdamSparks.