Nashville, Brentwood police investigating cases of teenage suspects striking cars, robbing drivers

Both the Metro Nashville and Brentwood police departments are investigating similar "bump and rob" cases from Monday night that left one person critically injured.

Metro's West Precinct detectives are working to identify a teenage suspect they say shot and injured a 26-year-old man Monday night after attempting to rob him along a Bellevue road.

The shooting was reported at 9:30 p.m. on Highway 100 near Old Hickory Boulevard.

According to a preliminary investigation, the victim’s car was struck from behind by the driver of a dark grey sedan, possibly a Honda or Nissan. When the victim got out of his vehicle to check on the damage, police said, a suspect got out of the passenger side of the sedan, ran up to him and demanded his belongings.

According to witnesses, the victim was shot after he attempted to push away from the gunman, described as a black teenager.

Another man in a separate vehicle on Old Hickory Boulevard drove off after the suspect pointed the gun in his direction. The armed robber got back into the passenger side of the suspect sedan, which began to pursue the second man who managed to elude the suspects. He returned to the scene a short time later and spoke to police.

The gunshot victim was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he was in critical but stable condition Tuesday.

Similar circumstances, suspect description reported in Brentwood

Brentwood police reported a "bump and rob" armed robbery taking place around 9:20 p.m. Monday near the intersection of Belle Rive Drive and Granny White Pike.

The female victim reported she was traveling on Belle Rive Drive when a vehicle, also described as a dark sedan, struck her car from behind.

When she got out to check the damage on her vehicle, two suspects described as black male teenagers brandished a handgun and demanded her purse.

The suspects took the woman's purse, returned to their car and fled the area.

Metro's West and Midtown Hills Precinct detectives are investigating whether their robbery and shooting is related to two vehicle thefts Monday outside separate convenience stores at 481 Old Hickory Boulevard and 7201 Highway 70 South, where the keys were left inside both vehicles, unattended. The young suspects are also believed to be involved in other robberies.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and qualify for a cash reward. Information can also be provided on the web at www.nashvillecrimestoppers.com.

Reach Natalie Alund at nalund@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund. Reach Natalie Allison at nallison@tennessean.com. Follow her on Twitter at @natalie_allison.