NASHVILLE, TN — Metro Nashville police have charged Keith A. King in connection with a fight outside a downtown bar that ended with the death of a 45-year-old Atlanta man. Police said King was arrested Nov. 6 and booked on a criminal homicide charge after the Oct. 25 confrontation outside Big Shotz on 2nd Avenue North.

The Facts

• What: Police charged Keith A. King in connection with a fatal fight outside a downtown Nashville bar.
• Where: Big Shotz on 2nd Avenue North in downtown Nashville.
• When: The fight happened the night of Oct. 25, and King was arrested Nov. 6.
• Who: King, 37, and Torey Ward, 45, of Atlanta.
• Charges: Criminal homicide, according to Metro Nashville police.
• Status: King is being held without bond in a Nashville jail and is set to appear before a judge on Nov. 10.

What police say

Metro Nashville police said the confrontation began as an argument inside Big Shotz before the men moved outside, where it became physical. Officers said bystanders tried to get King to stop, but the fight continued.

According to police, Ward lost consciousness during the struggle. When officers arrived, someone was already performing CPR, and officers took over lifesaving efforts before Ward was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Police said Ward later died at the hospital. Investigators have not said publicly what started the argument or whether any other charges are expected in the case.

The investigation

Homicide investigations typically focus on witness statements, surveillance video, medical findings and the sequence of events leading to the death. In cases like this one, detectives often work to match accounts from people inside the business with what happened outside and with any physical evidence collected at the scene.

Police have identified King as the suspect they arrested, but they have not released additional details about evidence used in the case. When investigators make an arrest after a fatal assault, they generally continue reviewing the record to determine whether the facts support the charge filed.

Anyone with information about the incident would ordinarily be asked to contact Metro Nashville police, though no tip line was included in the information released about this case.

What the charges mean

Criminal homicide is a serious charge used when police believe a person caused another person’s death under circumstances that meet the legal definition set out in Tennessee law. The exact level of homicide can vary, but the filing signals that investigators believe the death was tied to the suspect’s conduct.

A person held without bond remains in custody unless a judge later changes that status. At a first court appearance, a judge typically reviews the charge, advises the defendant of the case, and sets the next hearing date. That hearing is not a trial and does not decide guilt or innocence.

In criminal cases, prosecutors must still prove the charge in court. The defense may challenge the facts, the timeline, the identification of the defendant, or the legal basis for the charge before any final outcome is reached.

What happens next

Court records show King is scheduled to appear before a judge on Nov. 10. That hearing will likely be an early step in the case, where the court can address custody status and set additional proceedings.

Further developments could include more filings from prosecutors, additional evidence in the case file, or later hearings as the case moves through the Nashville court system.

Have information on a crime? Contact local police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).