Felon accused of robbing Nashville couple at gunpoint, stealing their RV

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A man with a lengthy criminal history was arrested Tuesday morning after Metro Nashville police say he robbed a man and a woman at gunpoint and drove off in their RV.

The incident is said to have occurred around 12:30 p.m. in a parking lot on Victory Avenue, near Nissan Stadium. The couple, both in their mid-20s, were walking to their RV when they saw a man get out of his car.

Officials said the couple felt “uncomfortable” and both got into the driver’s side of the RV. That’s when the man, later identified as 33-year-old Jesse McBride, opened the passenger door and held the couple at gunpoint, according to police.

McBride reportedly demanded their keys and wallets. After the two victims complied, authorities drove McBride away in their RV. The couple told responding officers they had Apple AirTags in the RV, which were traced to East Trinity Lane and Dickerson Pike.

Officers from the East Precinct caught up with McBride and attempted to detain him. According to officers, McBride kept driving. After officers successfully placed spike strips, McBride allegedly vandalized the RV, got out and ran.

Officer Tommy Smith and his K-9 partner Talon pursued McBride and were able to apprehend him, police said. He now faces charges of aggravated robbery, carjacking and evading arrest.

Court records show McBride has a criminal history dating back to 2008, when he was convicted of multiple counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. After serving time in prison, McBride was convicted of another set of charges in 2014.

Those charges include evading arrest, criminal impersonation and burglary. He was arrested again for a gas station burglary in East Nashville in 2022 and later pleaded guilty. Records show he was still on probation when the alleged carjacking occurred on Tuesday.

According to authorities, McBride is being held on $175,000 bail.