NASHVILLE, Tennessee – A federal jury on November 6 convicted 35-year-old Zantaun D. Horton of Goodlettsville of possessing ammunition as a convicted felon in connection with a July 2022 shooting in North Nashville, U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek of the Middle District of Tennessee announced.
Horton previously pleaded guilty to separate federal drug and firearms charges. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 18.
What prosecutors presented at trial
According to evidence at trial, Horton had supplied heroin for about a year to the victim, identified in court as M.A. On July 1, 2022, M.A., who owed Horton money from an earlier drug deal, contacted him to buy two grams of heroin.
After a series of texts and phone calls, Horton told M.A. to meet him at 1125 38th Avenue North. M.A. paid $200 through Cash App, and Horton handed over the drugs.
A dispute started when M.A. complained that he received less than the two sides had agreed on. Horton reached into the vehicle and tried to take the drugs back, according to the evidence.
Horton threatened to shoot M.A.’s vehicle if he moved, then fired two shots, hitting M.A. twice in the left side of the chest. Horton then told M.A., “You better get out of here.”
M.A. drove a short distance down 38th Avenue North and called 911.
The investigation
Officers recovered two spent .380-caliber casings near the scene, one made by Winchester and the other by Speer.
Detectives with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department interviewed M.A. at the hospital and obtained his cellphone, which held text messages with Horton before the shooting. Investigators also found a $200 Cash App receipt tied to an account named “$40thblock” that displayed Horton’s photograph. M.A. picked Horton out of a photographic lineup.
Detectives arrested Horton on July 5, 2022, on warrants tied to the shooting. They also searched the residence where he had been staying. They recovered three cellphones, an empty box of Winchester .380-caliber ammunition, a live Winchester .380-caliber round, a live Speer .380-caliber round and a custom “40th Block Wam” necklace associated with Horton.
A forensic exam of the phones turned up more messages between Horton and M.A. It also showed multiple internet searches about the July 1, 2022, shooting.
Sentencing exposure
Horton faces up to 15 years in federal prison on the ammunition conviction. He faces up to 40 years on the related drug offense and up to life in prison on the related firearms offense. He pleaded guilty to both before trial.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachel M. Stephens and Brian T. Enright prosecuted it.
