Atlanta man dies after bar fight in Nashville

Torey Ward, 45, of Atlanta, died after a physical confrontation at a bar in Nashville, Tennessee. Metro Nashville Police identified Ward as the victim in an incident that occurred early Sunday morning.

The dispute began inside a bar on 2nd Avenue North in downtown Nashville. Police said the argument started between Ward, his girlfriend, and a 37-year-old Nashville man. Ward was in the bathroom when the verbal exchange began. When he returned to the main area, the argument continued.

Staff at the bar asked the group to leave the building. Once outside, Ward and the Nashville man began fighting. Witnesses told officers that the Nashville man punched Ward and put him in a chokehold. The man later reported that he used force because he feared for his safety.

Ward's girlfriend attempted to step in while the two men were outside. Police stated that an unidentified female friend of the Nashville man injured Ward's girlfriend during the intervention. Inside the bar, the girlfriend had seen Ward strike the Nashville man in the chest several times.

Officers transported Ward to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He died at the facility. The Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the official cause of death. No charges had been filed as of Sunday afternoon.

The incident happened around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday. Ward’s body was released to family members after the initial investigation. The bar remains open for business.