Tragedy at a Nashville Sam’s Club: Frito‑Lay Employee Killed by Stray Bullet

In the pre‑dawn hush of Sunday, around 4 a.m., a single bullet ripped through the side metal wall of a Sam’s Club warehouse on the 1300 block of Antioch Pike in Nashville. The projectile didn’t hit a target that was meant to be hit – it struck a man who was simply doing his job.

Paris Carlock, 55, a longtime Frito‑Lay employee from Murfreesboro, was in the chip aisle doing a routine product inventory when the stray round slammed into his head. He collapsed and, despite first‑responders rushing him to a nearby hospital, he was pronounced dead shortly after.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of one of our colleagues,” PepsiCo, the parent company of Frito‑Lay, said in a statement. “Our sincere condolences are with his family and loved ones.” The company added that it is cooperating fully with law‑enforcement investigators.

The Metro Nashville Police Department’s Homicide Unit has opened an investigation. Preliminary information suggests the shot may be tied to an argument that flared up at Lavou Lounge, a bar just a stone’s throw from the Sam’s Club. According to police, security escorted the disputing parties out, but they continued arguing outside, and gunfire was reported as vehicles drove away.

A Sam’s Club spokesperson expressed heartbreak over the incident, promising continued collaboration with investigators. Police are asking anyone who saw the shooting or the vehicles involved to call Crime Stoppers at (615) 742‑7463. Tips can be submitted anonymously and may qualify for a cash reward.

This senseless loss has left coworkers, friends, and the wider community reeling, underscoring how a single moment of violence can ripple far beyond its original spark.