Nashville, Tennessee

From Nashville’s WKRN.com of October 8, 2007

Gunfire Kills East Nashville Store Owner

The owner of a convenience store in east Nashville was shot and killed at her store on Cahal Avenue Monday afternoon.

Customers found the body of 70-year-old Classie Wilson inside her store, Cahal Market, at about 1 p.m. Monday.

She had been shot in the chest.

Police believe Wilson and the suspect exchanged gunfire before she was fatally wounded.

Officers said the suspect came in, asking for to purchase [sic] a single pack of cigarettes when the altercation began.

Wilson and her husband owned and operated the Cahall Market for more than 20 years.

Her son, Ronald Wilson, spoke with News 2 Monday.

He said, “She lived by example. For 28, 30 years we’ve been at the store she’s helped people when they needed it… If they didn’t have enough money or couldn’t pay, she’d help them out.”

Police are searching for a suspect Monday night.

They believe he escaped on foot and may still be in the neighborhood.