February 27, 2025-
A Davidson County Jury returned a GUILTY verdict on the charge of First Degree Premeditated Murder against 27-year-old Ralph Nevels Jr. in the 2021 killing of 23-year-old Miguel Ontiveros.
It took the jury less than three hours to find Nevels guilty of the murder, which was reported by the media at the time as a road rage style shooting. Excellent work by Metro Police, however, revealed that Miguel Ontiveros and the defendant were actually feuding over a woman at the time. That feud resulted in the defendant pursuing the victim along Charlotte Avenue in West Nashville, then spraying his Hyundai Sonata with several rounds, killing the victim. The defendant, Nevels, was later located in Mt. Juliet, TN (just east of Nashville) and arrested.
Excellent work by the Nashville District Attorney’s office to gather experts, witnesses, and even the woman the two men were feuding over, to be part of the prosecution and successful outcome. The victim’s family was both relieved and overjoyed with the jury’s verdict, praising the work of prosecutors and the entire Nashville District Attorney’s office.
The Criminal Court Division I Prosecution Team included Assistant District Attorneys Chantley Frazier and Derick Blakely, along with Victim Witness Coordinator Cathy Harrison, Investigator Randy Martin, and Secretary Candace Felts.
With the conviction, Nevels received an automatic life sentence behind bars.
Victim: Miguel Ontiveros
A very relieved family with the Nashville Prosecution Team
Defendant Ralph Nevels, Jr. 