Nashville Man on Probation for Attempted Murder Charged with Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

NASHVILLE – Latreavias Burns, 28, of Nashville, has been charged by criminal complaint with being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire for the Middle District of Tennessee.

“We will not permit those who have committed violent crimes to carry firearms, especially when they are on release in our community,” said Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire. “Our Operation Bond Watch program works every day with our law enforcement partners to keep violent felons from carrying guns and hold those who do accountable for their actions.”

According to court documents, on April 17, 2025, Metropolitan Nashville Police Department detectives were conducting surveillance using Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA) cameras in the area of South 6th Street and Summer Place in Nashville. Detectives observed a group of individuals congregating and identified one of the individuals as Latreavias Burns, who had active state warrants.

Detectives responded to the area and attempted to make contact with Burns, who ran away. The detectives caught Burns, and during a search incident to arrest, they found a Smith and Wesson, Model: SD9; Caliber: 9mm pistol loaded with 19 rounds of ammunition in Burns’ left pant leg, and a digital scale with marijuana residue.

Burns has multiple prior felony convictions in Davidson County, Tennessee, including Attempted Second Degree Murder and Assault Resulting in Death and Accessory After the Fact. According to the Tennessee Department of Corrections, Burns had absconded from his community corrections program prior to this incident.

If convicted, Burns faces a maximum of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel M. Stephens is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

A complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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