In Symbolic Move, Waffle House Shooting Victim Gets Metro Council Backing

Nashville’s city council took a symbolic step Tuesday to support the family of one victim of the 2018 mass shooting at a Waffle House in Antioch.

The family has sued the city, charging that 911 dispatchers made mistakes that delayed police. In response, the council made the unusual move of urging the Metro Law Department to quickly settle with the family. 

The nonbinding resolution can’t compel city attorneys. But Councilwoman Tanaka Vercher said the group is sending a message that government can be “decent” toward the family of 23-year-old Akilah DaSilva. 

“They don’t want our pity. They don’t want our benevolence. They want us to convey to them that Akilah’s life actually mattered and that this government takes seriously the overall safety for everyone,” Vercher said. 

Part of Vercher’s resolution urges Metro emergency communications to create a policy requiring dispatchers to heed GPS coordinates when available. The wrongful death lawsuit brought by DaSilva’s mother claims they didn’t on April 22, 2018, when a man opened fire in the diner and killed four.

Vercher had strong backing from the council’s minority caucus, with all of its members helping the measure pass, 25-13. She argued that dragging out this tragic case involving a black family would make Metro look cruel to black residents. 

“This is about peace for this black family,” Vercher said. 

Other council members contested the proposal, saying it was out of line for the council to circumvent the legal process.

“I don’t think we as a council can urge the legal system to rush,” said Councilwoman Tonya Hancock.

Some said the facts of the emergency response aren’t all known yet, and that taking a side sets an unusual precedent.

“We will have plaintiff’s attorneys lined up from the courthouse to I-440 wanting us to do them,” said Councilman Kevin Rhoten. “This is not where you do legal matters.”

Other members worried the wording of the resolution could act like an admission of Metro guilt in court — although those concerns were greatly diminished during the debate when attorneys weighed in.