An Iowa man allegedly opened fire on his girlfriend and her five children after an argument in a minivan while visiting the Nashville area, according to police.
Nashville police confirmed the incident happened around 10 p.m. Saturday. The shooting happened inside the minivan the children were riding in.
Jovien T. Smith, 26, allegedly shot his girlfriend and then sprayed the minivan with bullets. A 4-year-old girl was killed and two other children were critically injured, Fox 17 Nashville reported.
The station reported that the woman was driving the minivan when the argument ensued. During the fracas, Smith threw the woman's cell phone out the window and then attempted to grab the steering wheel, Fox Nashville reported, citing the police.
The woman was able to pull over but then was shot multiple times and fled the vehicle. The station reported that it was then that Smith opened fire on the children. According to Fox Nashville, four of the five children were shot.
After firing on the children, Smith allegedly got out of the van and began chasing their mother, even as she sought assistance from people in nearby homes, News Channel 5 reported.
The children in critical condition were one and 7 years old, the station reported. Their mother was hospitalized in serious condition.
The station reported that Smith faces several charges, including homicide and five counts of attempted homicide.
