Victim killed assisting elderly robbery victimPolice in Nashville have identified the man stabbed to death outside a south Nashville Kroger store Tuesday afternoon.
Jerry McEwen, 54 (pictured right), was stabbed in the chest as he attempted to retrieve a purse stolen from a 60-year-old woman outside the store.
He died a short time later at Southern Hills Medical Center.
The suspect, 52-year-old Robert Williams, an ex-convict with a history of violent offenses, is being sought by police. Authorities are also searching for Williams’ presumed girlfriend, 36-year-old Stephanie Hudson. Arrest warrants have been issued, charging both with criminal homicide.
In the early 80s, Williams was convicted of assault with intent to murder and armed robbery, among others, and sentenced to 38 years in prison.
In 1993, he was eligible for parole but denied parole three years in a row due to behavioral issues.
Williams was paroled twice, in 1998 and 2000, but each time, his parole was revoked due to bad behavior.
In 2001, he was re-arrested for weapons possession.
Williams was again paroled in May of this year.
Police said Williams is being looked at as a suspect in another Kroger parking lot robbery last Friday.
Somebody was robbed at knife point at the Kroger on Dickerson Pike. The suspect matches Williams’ description but no charges have been filed.
Hudson, also an ex-con, received a 10 year sentence for multiple forgery convictions in Marshall County in 1999. She registered as an ex-con with the Metro Police Department in November 2006.
Police said the robbery victim fell to ground after her purse was stolen. She was not seriously hurt.
McEwen founded Coolcats Creative, a web design company based in Nashville, in 1995.
According to the Web site, www.coolcats.com , McEwen was a guitar prodigy who recorded with the likes of George Jones, Johnny Cash, B.B. King and Tanya Tucker, among others.
His grandfather owned the first Ford dealership in Tennessee, according to the Web site.
Anyone with information on Williams’ or Hudson’s whereabouts, contact Metro Police at 615-862-8600 .