Teen Trinity Quinn May Be Tried As Adult For West Nashville Murder

NASHVILLE, TN — Nashville's district attorney intends to try Trinity Quinn, the 15-year-old charged with the murder of a West Nashville gas station clerk, as an adult, prosecutors informed juvenile court officials Thursday.

Quinn and her defense attorney Dwight Scott waived a preliminary hearing Thursday and Quinn will remain in a juvenile detention facility. Juvenile court officials also said that they received notice of the DA's intentions Thursday. Quinn's next hearing is May 16.

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Quinn, along with 28-year-old Daniel Clark, both of Dayton, Tenn., are charged with murdering John Daniel Stevens, a 58-year-old clerk at the Exxon at the corner of Davidson Drive and Charlotte Pike. Police say the pair entered the convenience store around 9:30 Tuesday night. Quinn briefly shopped before Clark approached the counter, pointed the gun at Stevens and then when Stevens tried to grab the gun, stepped back and shot Stevens multiple times.

Investigators say the two rifled Stevens' pockets, locating keys, apparently in an attempt to find a car with fuel to further their escape. Quinn was reported missing when she failed to show up at school in Rhea County Tuesday morning, but was named as a suspect in Stevens' death just hours after an AMBER Alert was issued. Quinn and Clark were discovered hiding in a wooded area near Old Hickory Boulevard after Quinn was spotted on the roadside by a passing trucker.

Image via MNPD