A shocking and brutal crime has rocked Nashville after police say Mohamed Mohamed, 39, repeatedly raped an unconscious woman on the front steps of a church in the city’s Woodbine neighborhood. The woman later died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Attack Witnessed by Firefighters
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department reports that around 9:30 p.m. Thursday, a Nashville Fire Department crew (Engine 21) was traveling down Nolensville Pike when they saw the sexual assault happening in plain sight on the church sidewalk.
As the crew turned around and chirped their siren, Mohamed attempted to pull up the victim’s pants. Firefighters detained him immediately, called the police, and rendered aid to the victim. She was transported to Vanderbilt, where she died shortly after arrival.
Surveillance Video Tells the Story
Nearby surveillance cameras captured the victim stumbling unsteadily toward the church steps before sitting down, appearing impaired or under the influence of a substance.
Mohamed then approached, sat beside her, and began making unwanted physical contact. Even as she drifted in and out of consciousness and tried weakly to push him away, he lifted her from the steps, put her on the ground, and repeatedly raped her.
Charges and Bond
Mohamed was arrested at the scene and taken to police headquarters, where he refused to be interviewed. He has been charged with four counts of rape.
A judicial commissioner set his bond at $300,000. Under Tennessee law, all defendants except those in capital death penalty cases have the right to bond, though the amount can vary widely. The decision has sparked public outrage, with many demanding that predators like Mohamed should never be given the chance to walk free.
Victim Remains Unidentified
The woman carried no identification. Detectives are working with the Medical Examiner’s Office to confirm her identity through fingerprints. She is believed to be in her 30s.
“This woman died nameless and alone after a horrific assault,” one investigator noted. “Our first priority is to restore her identity and dignity.”
Community in Shock
Neighbors and church members expressed horror that such an act could take place on sacred ground, in public, and witnessed by first responders.
The investigation is ongoing, and prosecutors say additional charges could be filed once the autopsy determines whether the assault directly caused the victim’s death.
In a city already struggling with violent crime, Nashville now faces the chilling reality of a defenseless woman being sexually assaulted and murdered on church steps, a crime both brazen and grotesque, leaving residents stunned and demanding justice.
