Police say a dark sedan pulled alongside his car before shots were fired near the I-65/I-40 interchange.
NASHVILLE, TN — A Fisk University men’s basketball player, Andre Bell, 20, died Monday after he was shot while driving on Interstate 65 North near the I-40 interchange on Sunday night, according to police and the university. Bell was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and later pronounced dead.
Bell’s killing comes as detectives appeal for information about a dark sedan believed to be involved. Investigators said Bell and two friends were returning to campus shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday when gunfire erupted beside their car. The case is now a homicide investigation led by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. Fisk University confirmed Bell’s death Monday and said counseling is being offered to students and teammates as the campus mourns the loss of a student-athlete remembered for his leadership and warmth.
Police said Bell had left a university gymnastics event at the fairgrounds before entering I-65 North in a white Nissan Sentra with two friends. As the Sentra traveled near the downtown interchange with I-40, a dark sedan pulled up in the left lane and multiple shots were fired into Bell’s vehicle, striking him in the head. The Sentra slowed, spun back into traffic and collided with a red pickup truck, investigators said. The dark sedan continued northbound. Bell’s friends were not struck by gunfire; they told detectives they were briefly distracted by their phones before the shooting. Officers and medics arrived within minutes and transported Bell to the hospital, where he remained in extremely critical condition until he died Monday.
Detectives said evidence at the scene suggests the shooter’s vehicle may have windshield damage consistent with shattered glass. Investigators have not identified a motive and have not announced any arrests. The department asked anyone with dashcam video from the area shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday to contact Crime Stoppers. Bell, a sophomore business administration major from Jackson, Tennessee, was a guard on the Bulldogs roster and known around campus by the nickname “Dre,” according to the school. In statements Monday, Fisk leaders described Bell as a scholar and an integral part of the program.
In a message to the campus community, Athletics Director Valencia Jordan said the Fisk athletics family was “devastated” by a “senseless act of violence” that took Bell’s life as he was headed back to campus after helping with the gymnastics meet. Men’s basketball head coach Jeremiah Crutcher called Bell “a leader on and off the basketball court” and remembered his “infectious smile” and “loving personality.” Friends and teammates gathered on campus this week, leaving flowers and handwritten notes near the gym as classes resumed. The university said grief counseling would remain available and asked for privacy for Bell’s family.
Sunday’s shooting occurred near one of Nashville’s busiest highway junctions, where I-65, I-40 and I-24 converge just south of downtown. The interchange has seen heavy traffic and frequent collisions during peak hours, though police have not linked congestion to this case. In recent years, the city has recorded multiple roadway shootings under investigation by the homicide unit, and officials have urged drivers with dashcams to share footage that could help identify suspects in crimes that unfold at high speed on the interstates. Bell’s death adds to a series of incidents that have rattled residents and prompted renewed calls from community leaders for cooperation with investigators.
Police said the homicide unit is leading interviews with witnesses and reviewing evidence collected along I-65 North, including shell casings and debris patterns. Detectives are also assessing nearby surveillance and traffic cameras to track the dark sedan as it left the area. No charges have been filed. Authorities said tips can be made anonymously through Crime Stoppers, which offers cash rewards for information that leads to an arrest. Fisk University said it would honor Bell at upcoming campus events and that athletics schedules may be adjusted as students grieve. Memorial details were not announced as of Wednesday.
On campus, classmates described Bell as calm under pressure and generous with his time. A sophomore who shared a business course with him said Bell volunteered at youth clinics and often stayed late to rebound for teammates. A custodian near the athletics complex recalled Bell holding doors and greeting staff by name. “He made people feel seen,” said a student who attended Sunday’s meet. Outside the gym, candles burned in glass jars as players arrived in hoodies and team jackets, some quietly embracing before practice. A paper sign taped to the wall read simply, “Dre, we love you.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, police said the motive remained unknown and no suspect description beyond the dark sedan had been confirmed. Detectives planned to provide their next update after reviewing additional video and witness statements later this week. Fisk officials said the team would gather privately with counselors and family members in the coming days. Bell’s funeral and public remembrance plans were pending. The investigation continues.
Author note: Last updated January 14, 2026.