Search fatalities

James Salinas

Age : 32

Gender : Male

Race : Latino/a/e

Date : 08/06/2026

Location : Thompson Lane Self Storage, 2800 block of Landers Avenue

City : Nashville

County : Davidson

State : Tennessee

Agency : Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by federal agents during firearms enforcement operation

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/06/2026, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents conducted a planned federal firearms enforcement operation at Thompson Lane Self Storage in the 2800 block of Landers Avenue in South Nashville. According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the operation involved the suspected sale of unlawful firearms. Metro Nashville Police Department officers were assisting ATF with the enforcement action.

ATF's Special Response Team encountered two people during the operation: 32-year-old James Salinas and 16-year-old Denzel Molina. Police subsequently said agents approached one of them toward the rear of the storage facility and that person pulled a firearm and began shooting at the agents. An ATF agent returned fire and fatally shot him. Moments later, the second person allegedly pointed a firearm at another agent. ATF agents opened fire and killed him before he fired the weapon, according to the police account.

TBI's official release states more generally that gunfire was exchanged during the encounter and both Salinas and Molina were struck and fatally wounded. The agency's 08/07 update identified the two people who died but did not specify which man authorities allege fired at agents and which allegedly pointed a gun. Accordingly, the available official information does not establish which version applies specifically to Salinas.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating the shootings at the request of 20th Judicial District Attorney General Glenn Funk. TBI investigators are collecting evidence and conducting interviews and will provide their findings to the district attorney for review. The ATF agent or agents who fired at Salinas have not been publicly identified in the sources reviewed.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://fox17.com/news/local/two-killed-during-atf-federal-firearms-enforcement-operation-in-nashville-after-agents-came-under-fire-as-tbi-launches-investigation
https://www.wsmv.com/2026/08/06/2-dead-after-shooting-involving-federal-agents-nashville-heres-what-we-know/
https://tbinewsroom.com/2026/08/06/tbi-special-agents-investigating-officer-involved-shooting-in-nashville-4/