Arrest made after woman killed while exercising on popular Nashville trail

Oct 16, 2024

A man has been arrested in the fatal shooting of a woman who was killed while exercising Monday on a popular Nashville, Tennessee, walking trail.

Paul Park, 29, of Brentwood, Tennessee, was arrested Tuesday in connection with the death Alyssa Lokits, 34. Lokits was found with a gunshot wound about 5:30 p.m. Monday on the Mill Creek Greenway off Old Hickory Boulevard, Nashville police said in statements.

In announcing Park's arrest Tuesday, police on X praised the "incredible investigative work from Homicide & Specialized Investigations detectives led to the arrest."

It was not immediately clear Tuesday afternoon whether Park had an attorney. Police did not specify a charge or charges against him.

Park's relatives could not immediately be reached for comment late Tuesday afternoon.

“Lokits was exercising on the trail when witnesses heard her yelling for help,” police said.

Witnesses told police they saw a man on top of Lokits before shots were fired.

“The suspect fled the parking area in a dark colored 4-door sedan towards Old Hickory Boulevard. Lokits was discovered with a gunshot wound in the wood line,” police said.

Lokits, whose car was found at a trailhead entrance on Pettus Avenue, died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, police said.

Lokits' relatives could not be reached for comment.

Antonio Planas is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.