The Fisk University community is grieving after the death of 20-year-old basketball player Andre Bell, who was killed in a late-night shooting on a Nashville interstate.
Bell, a sophomore and guard for the Bulldogs, was returning to campus with teammates after volunteering at a university gymnastics event when gunfire erupted on Interstate 65.
According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, Bell was riding in a white Nissan Sentra with two friends when a dark-colored sedan pulled alongside them in the left lane.
Moments later, multiple shots were fired.
Bell was struck in the head, causing the vehicle to slow and spin before colliding with a red pickup truck. The suspect vehicle continued northbound and fled the scene.
Investigators say a motive for the shooting has not been identified. Police believe the suspect’s car may have windshield damage, based on shattered glass recovered at the scene. Authorities are asking for dashcam footage or information related to the incident.
Bell’s death has left a deep void on campus. Fisk men’s basketball coach Jeremiah Crutcher described the loss as devastating, calling Bell “a leader on and off the basketball court” and adding that the young athlete was “unfairly snatched from this world.” Counseling services are being offered to student-athletes as the school processes the tragedy.
Family members also shared their heartbreak in a statement released by Fisk University. Bell’s mother, Amber Lewis, said, “Our hearts and our world are completely shattered. Andre is the light of our lives.”
She remembered her son as a devoted brother and grandson who lifted up everyone around him, on and off the court.
Lewis also noted that Bell’s final basket came just a day earlier—a dunk during the game on Saturday, January 10.
Community members echoed that sentiment. Fisk alumna Jessica Williams called the shooting “extremely disheartening,” adding that Bell was a constant presence not only at the university but throughout Nashville. “No parent should have to experience this,” she said.
Anyone with information about the dark sedan or its occupants is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. Tips can be submitted anonymously and may be eligible for a cash reward.