A man is reportedly under arrest for allegedly planning a violent attack on Broadway in Nashville. Per wsmv.com, "Police said 53-year-old Phillip Anderson Jr. was seen in a video [on social media] driving downtown holding a shotgun and talking about killing police officers and other people." The outlet also states that according to the arrest report, Anderson intended to deliberately run over people.
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That sounds similar to the New Year's attack in New Orleans. It resulted in the deaths of 14 people and harmed many others as well.
Police hastened to Broadway after becoming aware of Anderson's intentions so they could ward off a potential lethal incident. They were able to locate Anderson and place him under arrest for drunken driving near Broadway.
The Threats Anderson Allegedly Made
A media release dated October 23, 2025 from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department states this. "Anderson recorded himself, armed with a shotgun, pulling up alongside several police vehicles in the Music City Center parking garage saying, 'This is a 410 shotgun, I got it for them' and 'I'm about to find a sniper point.'"
He also reportedly mentioned his intention of running over people with his vehicle. Anderson is from Goodlettsville. He was charged with "felony false reporting and gun possession while under the influence." Anderson is in custody on $11,000 bond.
Authorities Are Taking Pro-Active Measures To Keep Downtown Nashville Safe
Broadway is a famous Nashville destination frequented by tourists and others seeking fun, good music, and numerous food-and-drink establishments. Everyone's safety is therefore a top priority. According to wsmv.com, the Nashville Department of Transportation plans to place "retractable roadblocks on Broadway designed to stop vehicles weighing up to 60,000 pounds traveling at 50 miles per hour."
The outlet quoted a woman who in employed on Broadway. "I think that extra safety barriers down here would be very helpful for our community," said Sofia Nargentino. "Especially with the large tourism that we experience down here, that'll make it safer for the locals who want to come downtown."
She added, "When customers come into the building, we can take care of them and protect them as much as we can. It would be great to have our streets safe for them as they're walking around."
