Police Hope More Visibility Will Increase Crime Tips

Channel 5 10/12/2008 NASHVILLE, Tenn.- Often times, police rely on witnesses to help them solve crimes. That's why Nashville's CrimeStoppers is taking extra steps to advertise 74-CRIME, the number to call with a tip. When crime scene investigators are working, witnesses will notice something new on their vehicles: the phone number to Crime Stoppers. The hope is the signs will generate more calls to the tip line. Calls to Crime Stoppers are anonymous. Callers are issued code numbers, and they are paid by Crime Stoppers board members who are civilians, not police officers.

Teen shot overnight while walking with friends

Reported by WKRN (Channel 2) Metro police are looking for the person who shot a teenager just south of downtown overnight.Officers responded to 1216 Lewis Street, near Murfreesboro Pike, just before 12 midnight Monday. A 16-year-old told officers he was walking with friends near the J. C. Napier Housing Complex on Fairfield Avenue when three men approached him and started firing shots.The teen was struck by a bullet in the lower part of his body. Police said they had reason to believe that the shooting could have been gang-related, but that is under investigation.Captain David Imhof, Metro police, said, "We weren't 100% sure of that, but just because we were getting some information that it may be gang-related, we went ahead and called the gang unit out there to investigate." Police said the shooting victim's injuries are not life-threatening. He was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 74-CRIME.