Man killed in shootout near TSU is identified

One man was killed and another was wounded after shooting incidents Monday afternoon near Tennessee State University, according to Metro police.

Police identified the man fatally wounded as 29-year-old Anthony Barbee. Eric Anthony Freeman, 24, also was shot and, despite previous reports, he was not arrested, police said.

Freeman was discharged from the hospital Monday evening and told investigators that he was shot during an attempted robbery and denies shooting Barbee, police said.

The investigation is ongoing and no charges have been placed in relation to the shooting, police said.

Gunfire broke out around 12:40 p.m. in the parking lot at the Village on the Green Apartments on Ed Temple Boulevard, according to police spokesman Don Aaron. Witnesses who happened to be at the complex called 911 and tried to save Barbee, who collapsed outside the complex where he lived.

"Shots were fired in the parking lot of the apartment complex at 12:40 p.m.," police said in a release Monday. "Barbee fled behind the buildings and collapsed on the side of one of them. Area residents provided first aid until the ambulance arrived. Barbee was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he was pronounced dead."

The witnesses told investigators that a man drove away from the apartment complex in a black Ford Mustang, Aaron said.

Freeman, driving a black Ford Mustang, showed up with a gunshot wound to the back at a TSU entrance near Albion Street and 33rd Avenue North, where he made contact with authorities and was rushed to Vanderbilt.

The black Mustang was still parked at the campus entrance Monday afternoon with its back window shattered.

Investigators believe that bullets were shot into and out of the Mustang, although they were not immediately able to search the car. Aaron said the car probably would be impounded after police secure a search warrant.

Police found cash around the victim in the Mustang, Aaron said.

After being medically cleared from Vanderbilt, Freeman was taken to the North Precinct. Police said Freeman told detectives he was shot during an attempted robbery and that he denies shooting Barbee.

Police ask anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 615-74-CRIME.

TSU spokesman Rick DelaHaya said the victims were not TSU students. In a statement, the university said it was cooperating with Metro police on the investigation.

Last fall, TSU established a Campus Safety Commission, which brings students and administrators together with law enforcement and community members to discuss student safety. North Precinct Cmdr. Terrence Graves, who serves on that commission, was at the scene Monday.