‘Pure chaos’: Easter Sunday shooting survivor describes traumatic day in court; Suspect to stay in jail
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The man accused of opening fire in a Salemtown restaurant on Easter Sunday, killing one and injuring several others, will stay in jail on no bond after facing one survivor in court Friday.
Anton Rucker, 46, who is charged with murder, among other crimes, appeared in court for a preliminary hearing where a judge ruled, due to his extensive criminal history, including being a convicted felon with a federal hold in possession of a gun, he should remain in jail.
The judge made the decision after listening to testimony from witnesses, including restaurant employee, Leeshia White, who recounted the terrifying events that unfolded on Easter Sunday.
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White told the judge everyone was dancing in the packed restaurant when she noticed an argument broke out between two men. Then, she testified to seeing Rucker pull out a gun.
“I yell, ‘Chef, gun!’ And as soon as I said that, I see him firing the gun and just start shooting,” White said. “I remember thinking that this gun must have unloaded in the restaurant because it was just back to back to back.”
As shots rang out, White said Rucker began to back up while continuing to fire.
“You saw people throwing kids across the table, people covering kids’ bodies. It was just chaos. Just pure chaos,” White said.
Metro police homicide detective Miranda Vaughn testified Rucker fired eight shots total, which she determined after watching the surveillance video that captured the shooting.
“You see a couple of individuals,” Vaughn said. “They had a couple of chairs in their hand, but they’re going toward the shooter. Then you see, the victim, Mr. Beachem, tries to come in and also tries to stop the shooter, and you can clearly see when he is struck.”
Allen Beachem, 33, was killed and seven others were sent to the hospital, according to police.
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Rucker’s defense attorney argued someone was dancing closely to his client’s table, bumping into him. He then claimed Rucker was pushed and potentially punched. In addition, he said the restaurant’s surveillance camera didn’t catch any of the events leading up to the shooting because of its angle.
The defense asked the judge for a bond with electronic monitoring and house arrest that included no exceptions, but his request was denied.
Rucker’s case was ultimately bound over to a Davidson County grand jury which will decide whether to indict him. Until then, he’ll remain in jail.
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