January 16, 2026 – The Nashville District Attorney’s office secured a Guilty Conviction against 61-year-old Melvin Nettles for the 2021 murder of Jadon Smith.
Nettles was sentenced to life in prison following the conviction. Jadon Simon was 34 years old when he got into an altercation with Nettles at a Nashville convenience store. As Simon fled, Nettles continued shooting at his vehicle, which was also carrying Simon’s children, ages 4 and 11. Simon’s vehicle eventually came to a stop at the intersection of Douglas Avenue and Jones Avenue. The children jumped out of the vehicle and hid. Nettles approached the vehicle, removed Simon and drove it away from the area.
Nettles was found guilty of first-degree premeditated murder, aggravated kidnapping and felon in possession of a weapon. Jadon’s mother told the Prosecutors Brian Ewald and Emma Lawson that her son can “finally rest in peace, knowing justice has been served”.
