Assault Investigation Underway After LGBTQ+ Harassment Incident at Nashville Storage Facility

Tyler Flanagan says she no longer feels safe after an alarming encounter at Extra Space Storage on Charlotte Pike in Nashville. What began as a simple visit to her storage unit quickly escalated into harassment and a physical assault.

“We're receiving a lot of death threats,” Flanagan said. “I'm concerned for myself, my friends, my family.”

Flanagan was with a friend when she says they encountered multiple men from Black Tie Moving inside the facility. Mistaking one of them for a storage employee, she asked for help moving items. That’s when, she says, the man responded with a homophobic slur and refused.

Flanagan reported the incident to a storage facility employee and asked for an escort to her car. She says that request was denied.

As she and her friend left the building, Flanagan says more slurs were shouted at them, and they were repeatedly misgendered. “We were just trying to leave,” she said. “They were at work. We were just accessing our unit. It didn’t need to escalate.”

Surveillance footage later captured part of the altercation. Flanagan is seen re-entering the facility, where a man strikes her in the face. She says her hand absorbed most of the impact and was left badly bruised.

Metro Nashville Police confirm detectives are conducting interviews to gather more information and determine appropriate charges.

“I didn’t do anything to deserve that,” Flanagan said. “We’re just human beings.”

Credit: CNN Newsource

Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.