Antioch restaurant owner killed in shootout outside business, Metro Police searching for suspects

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – The owner of an Antioch restaurant was shot and killed in his car during a shootout outside of his business Sunday night.

The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) said just before 11 p.m. Sunday, Hwarang Joo, 39, had just left his restaurant and was sitting in his Volkswagen when gunfire erupted.

Joo was struck in the chest, causing him to accelerate and crash into a dental office on Bell Road. The office was considerably damaged.

Joo was the owner of Hot Stuff, a spicy chicken restaurant in the Mill Creek Village shopping center. His friend and former employee, Juwan Myatt, said Joo was always kind and really kept to himself.

“He was just a stand-up guy, didn’t really have any issues with anybody at all,” Myatt said. “Who would do something like that to somebody that doesn’t do anything to anybody?”

Myatt said Joo was a husband and father. “He was a really good guy. He was always nice, always giving, you know, he always was wondering if I was okay,” he said.

Homicide detectives are working to figure out whether Joo was targeted or simply caught in crossfire, MNPD said. Anyone with information on the people responsible for the gunfire is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.

Copyright 2024 WSMV. All rights reserved.