Teen Suspects Arrested After DoorDash Driver Is Gunned Down Alongside His 14-Year-Old Brother

A routine food delivery turned into a devastating tragedy in Tennessee when two brothers were ambushed in their car. One lost his life, while the younger brother was left fighting for survival. Now, police have arrested two 16-year-olds as the investigation continues.

John Diaz Santos was working as a DoorDash driver on the evening of October 15, 2026, when he took his 14-year-old younger brother, Alan, along for deliveries. According to their family, John had been making deliveries for more than a year and often brought his brother with him. That evening, the two were sitting inside a black Infiniti sedan in the parking lot of Birchstone Village Apartments on North Dupont Avenue in Madison, just outside Nashville, Tennessee. What should have been an ordinary stop during their workday quickly became a life-changing tragedy.

According to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, the shooting happened at approximately 7:45 p.m. A person approached the brothers’ vehicle and opened fire. Moments later, two additional men came toward the car, and one of them also began shooting. The suspects then fled on foot. As the gunfire erupted, John attempted to escape, but the Infiniti crashed into a nearby fence. Both brothers were rushed to hospitals. John later died from his injuries, while Alan was taken to a children’s hospital with a gunshot wound to the head and was initially reported to be in critical condition.

The family’s grief was compounded by the uncertainty surrounding Alan’s recovery. Their mother, Alicia Santos Jimenez, described John as a hardworking, humble and loving young man who had dreams for his future. She had to face the loss of one son while worrying about the survival of the other. In a later update shared with local television station NewsChannel 5, the family said Alan had awakened and was recovering after being released from the hospital. The family also launched a fundraiser to help with expenses, including transporting John’s body to their family’s hometown in Oaxaca, Mexico.

The investigation produced its first major development on October 30, when police arrested 16-year-old Chad T. Wright at his Nashville high school. He was charged with criminal homicide, attempted criminal homicide and engaging in a criminal conspiracy. Later that night, investigators arrested a second 16-year-old, De’Nylen Montgomery, who faces the same charges. Both teenagers are accused in connection with John’s death and the shooting of his younger brother. Police have said that a possible robbery motive is being considered, but they have not publicly established what led to the attack or explained the precise roles each suspect allegedly played.

Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing. The arrests mark an important development for a family seeking answers, but they do not mean the case has been resolved. Police have not publicly confirmed whether additional suspects may be involved or whether further arrests are expected. The case has left a family mourning a young man whose working night ended in tragedy, while his younger brother continues the difficult process of recovery. For John’s loved ones, the hope is that investigators will establish exactly what happened and that those responsible will be held accountable through the justice system.

Source: Law&Crime