Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell is responding after U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles publicly called for the National Guard to be deployed in the city following a violent attack in Germantown.
Police say 29-year-old Joequarius Williams followed a 25-year-old woman from a concert at Bridgestone Arena to her Germantown apartment building. He reportedly entered the elevator with her, strangled her, and threatened to kill her before she was able to escape.
Williams is a convicted sex offender who pleaded guilty in 2019 to aggravated assault and attempted forcible rape.
After the attack, Rep. Ogles released a statement criticizing city leadership and demanding stronger action. He argued that Williams should not have been free after his previous convictions and said Nashville is facing a serious public safety issue. He ended his statement by urging state leaders to send the National Guard.
Mayor O’Connell rejected Ogles’ claim that Nashville is in a state of anarchy. He said he is in ongoing communication with Metro Police Chief John Drake and that there are no current requests for state or federal intervention.
O’Connell also stated that he will not change the city’s approach based on a single incident, while acknowledging the seriousness of the crime and the concerns raised by the community.