What started as a simple traffic stop over dark tint and a hard-to-read plate on 39th Avenue North in West Nashville ended with detectives pulling stolen guns out of a Dodge Challenger and hauling two people to jail, police say. The late-night stop turned up weapons, cash, and suspected drugs in the car, and the case is drawing extra attention because the driver, 22-year-old Rico Ransom, had already been on the radar in a 2019 homicide investigation. His passenger, 19-year-old Ladarrion Cain, was also arrested.
Stop Yields Stolen Guns, Cash and Drug Paraphernalia
According to detectives, the Challenger was packed with trouble. Inside, officers say they found multiple handguns that had been reported stolen, more than $3,000 in cash, a digital scale, and about an ounce of marijuana.
Ransom was charged with firearm theft, gun possession during the commission of a felony, and felony marijuana possession and was released on $8,500 bond. Cain was charged with theft of a firearm and held on a $1,500 bond, as reported by WKRN.
Driver Tied to 2019 Shelton Homicide Case
The Metro Nashville Police Department said Ransom had been on felony diversion in connection with the 2019 killing of Steven Shelton and was previously arrested in May 2025 after officers say they found him with a rifle while he was free on bond in that case.
Police described Ransom as “one of two teens who approached an SUV and opened fire, fatally striking Steven Shelton,” according to WKRN.
Part of a Bigger Problem With Guns in Cars
The stop is one more entry in a long list of cases involving stolen guns on Nashville streets. The Metro Nashville Police Department reported 928 guns stolen from cars in 2024 and noted efforts to curb the problem through targeted initiatives. Local reporting has also documented the impact of that push, which MNPD says led to more than 1,000 arrests and recoveries of stolen vehicles and guns, as detailed by the Metro Nashville Police Department and WPLN.
Police Again Tell Drivers: Lock Up and Park Smart
In the wake of seizures like this one, police are once again pushing their Park Smart campaign. Officers are urging residents to lock their vehicles, secure or remove valuables, and avoid leaving firearms in cars at all, as reported by WTVF…