WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Wilson County authorities are searching for suspects following an armed robbery at a popular Mt. Juliet marina that injured two restaurant employees and led to a bystander’s death in the adjacent parking lot.

Patrons at the Cedar Creek Marina described such a crime as rare amid the tight-knit boating community.

“It’s a great place for boating and everyone has a good time, so yeah, I think for the most part we all feel very safe out here. It’s just really sad that it happened,” Freedom Boat Club member Susan Schultz said.

Although the incident did come as a disappointment, others said they wouldn’t let it deter them from enjoying the area.

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“Stuff can happen anywhere. It happens in Brentwood, it happens in Green Hills, it happens in Franklin. Unfortunately, sometimes it happens in Wilson,” boater Suzanne Bradshaw said.

Just after midnight on Saturday, June 29, officials said suspects assaulted two restaurant staff members and forced them to open the cash safe. The employees were treated and released by medics on scene.

Following the robbery, the suspects fled to the parking lot, where a 27-year-old man was found unresponsive with gunshot wounds in his vehicle, according to authorities. He died from his injuries.

The Mt. Juliet Police Department is investigating the restaurant robbery, which falls within city limits, and the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the deadly shooting in the parking lot, which took place on county property.

“You never hear anything going on out here, so, I mean, yeah, that’s pretty shocking,” said Fil Martocci, who has a boat slip at the Cedar Creek Marina.

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Martocci bought his property, roughly a mile away from the marina, 15 years ago. He said as the area has grown, he has noticed an uptick in crime. Nonetheless, the marina is one place he didn’t expect to be targeted.

“I mean, sometimes they have seafood boils out here on the weekends, and they’ve got live music going out here, and I don’t know, it’s terrible; it’s going to make me look over my shoulders,” Martocci said.

Other boaters called the crime senseless and were heartbroken to hear about the young bystander killed.

“It’s senselessness, over some money, and they probably didn’t get all that much, to be honest with you,” boater Anthony Bradshaw said. “There’s no price on a life, so it’s sad. My heart’s with their parents.”

The executive chef with the restaurant didn’t wish to go on camera, but he told News 2 he didn’t believe the 27-year-old worked at the restaurant.

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Marina patrons told News 2 they have faith that local law enforcement will apprehend the suspects involved quickly. However, they admitted they will be more cautious until the suspects are caught.

“I’m still going to come out here whenever I want to, but, like I said, I’m going to be looking around,” Martocci said.

Investigators are searching for a vehicle that may have fled the area at a high rate of speed on Saundersville Road.

Anyone with information about the crime is urged to call the Mt. Juliet Police Department at 615-754-2550 or the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 615-444-1459. Information can also be given anonymously by calling 615-754-TIPS (8477), or visiting the police department’s website or the sheriff’s office’s website.

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