18-year-old arrested in connection to teen’s shooting death in Hermitage

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Metro Nashville Police say an 18-year-old has been charged with the fatal shooting of another teen outside a Hermitage home on Saturday night.

Police responded to the home on Hallborough Way at 6:30 p.m. and found Zepplenin Phillips, 16, lying in the roadway after he was shot multiple times. He was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he died.

Raphael Jobehdari was identified as the suspect after detectives discovered Phillips had contacted him about buying a gun and sent him money.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Teen shot, killed at Hermitage home

Jobehdari was arrested Sunday morning after execution of a search warrant at his Carl Miller Drive home. The car that Phillips approached just before he was shot was located there and impounded. Three guns were taken during the search.

Police said this is the second time this year that Jobehdari has been involved in a fatal shooting. He and Gavin Dauzart, 18, exchanged gunfire with each other during a drug-related robbery on Jan. 31 in a parking lot on Highway 70 South in Bellevue. Dauzart died from his wounds. Jobehdari was shot in the stomach and leg and spent several days at Vanderbilt recovering, according to police.

In the January incident, Jobehdair claimed that he shot Dauzart in self-defense. After a review of the investigative file with the District Attorney’s Office, no charges were placed.