A woman named Alyssa Lokits, 34, was shot to death while walking on a trail in Nashville, with police arresting her suspected killer, 29-year-old Paul Park, for her murder. Lokits was found dead in an overgrown area of the Mill Creek Greenway in the Antioch neighborhood. Witnesses reported hearing her scream for help before gunfire was heard. Video footage showed the suspect following Lokits and returning to his car with cuts and bloodied clothing, leading to his identification as Park, the identical twin of someone involved in a past case.
Police detectives from the homicide and special investigations division issued an arrest warrant for Park after identifying him as the suspect in Lokits’ murder. They set up surveillance at his home and took him into custody while he was out driving nearby. Park was booked on a charge of criminal homicide and is being held in the Davidson County jail awaiting his first court appearance. Lokits, who lived near the greenway and worked in IT and cybersecurity, was shot once in the head and pronounced dead at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
The investigation into Lokits’ murder involved following a trail of clues that ultimately led to the suspect’s identification. Police obtained video footage from a resident’s dash camera that showed the suspect following Lokits on the trail and returning to his car with evidence of a struggle. A witness also provided partial details of the suspect’s license plate number. A homicide detective recognized the suspect as Paul Park, based on his resemblance to someone involved in a previous suicide case worked on by the detective in December 2021.
Authorities were able to quickly apprehend Park after identifying him as the suspect in Lokits’ murder. They arrested him while he was driving just miles from the location where Lokits was killed. Park is currently being held in jail pending his court appearance. This tragic incident has shocked the community in Nashville and has brought attention to the importance of public safety on nature trails and outdoor spaces. Lokits’ death serves as a reminder of the dangers that can exist in seemingly peaceful and scenic areas, and the necessity of law enforcement in ensuring the safety of residents.
