Evergreen Reporter

Pardrae Gooch, a 38-year-old resident of Nashville, Tennessee, has been charged by a federal grand jury with multiple offenses including robbery affecting interstate commerce, using fire to commit a felony, and damaging a building by fire. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Thomas J. Jaworski for the Middle District of Tennessee.

The charges stem from an incident on May 29, 2024. According to court documents and other publicly available information, Gooch entered S. Fashion Clothing Store in South Nashville where he allegedly assaulted the store's only employee at the time, identified as Victim 1. The attack involved choking her until she lost consciousness and further physical assault before forcing her into a bathroom. There, Gooch reportedly continued the assault over her cell phone before stealing it along with her car keys and fleeing in her vehicle. Before leaving the scene, he is accused of setting clothes on fire in an attempt to burn down the store with Victim 1 inside.

Responding to emergency calls from witnesses, Metro Nashville police officers and firefighters arrived at the scene. They rescued Victim 1 who was subsequently taken to a hospital and diagnosed with a cranial fracture among other injuries. The Nashville Fire Department managed to extinguish the blaze; however, damage from the fire led to temporary closure of the store.

At that time of this alleged offense, Gooch was out on bond related to domestic violence arrests involving two women and had been arrested eight days earlier for violating an order of protection.

If convicted on all counts against him, Gooch faces significant legal consequences including a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years up to potentially 20 years in federal prison along with a possible fine up to $250,000.

The case is being investigated by several agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Metropolitan Nashville Police Department; and Nashville Fire Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn D. Risinger and Emily Petro are handling prosecution efforts.

It should be noted that an indictment is merely an accusation at this stage—Gooch remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court proceedings.