NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A homicide investigation is underway after a man was shot and killed at an apartment complex near his Bellevue home early Saturday morning.

According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, officers responded to the Slate Apartments in the 7400 block of Highway 70 South at approximately 7:15 a.m. on Saturday, May 27, after a person found 60-year-old Rodrigo Ernesto Aguilar lying outside their apartment.

Authorities said surveillance footage showed Aguilar returning to his Bellevue Road residence from work around 1:30 a.m.

Aguilar was reportedly unloading his vehicle when he appeared to notice something off camera, walked toward the area where he was shot, and died at the scene.

Police said they responded to reports of shots fired in the area just after 2 a.m., but they did not find a crime scene or victim. 

No additional details have been released about this deadly shooting, which is under investigation by detectives from the Homicide Unit.

The Bellevue Middle School Parent Teacher Organization described Aguilar — nicknamed “Ernie” — as a beloved school staff member, and invited community members to attend a candlelight vigil in his honor at 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 28, next to the Bellevue Middle School football field.

“Ernie was a joyful and helpful member of our community and all who interacted with him felt better after having done so,” the PTO posted on Facebook.

If you have information about Aguilar’s death, you are asked to call Nashville Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. You can remain anonymous and qualify for a $5,000 reward for homicide and cold cases.

Editor’s Note: The Metro Nashville Police Department released an update correcting the spelling of the victim’s name after this story was published.