On the evening of Wednesday, June 19th, 1985, Robert “Bobby” Lester Tilley, Jr. was sitting with a friend in a yellow Vega station wagon near his friend’s residence at 627 Shelby Avenue. According to statements given that night, Tilley and his friend were harassing people as they passed by the car they were sitting in. They ended up in a verbal altercation with two young black males that were passing by which resulted in Tilley getting out of the car and chasing them. During the chase, Tilley picked up a large pipe and threw it at the men, striking one of them in the back, before they ran off. Tilley and his friend had moved from the car to the yard when approximately 10-15 minutes later a white over red Cadillac with 4 black males stopped in front of his friend’s house and fired a shot at the men. Tilley then grabbed a piece of concrete and walked toward the car at which point the man fired again striking Tilley before getting back in the car and driving away. Tilley succumbed to his gunshot wound on June 21st, 1985. Robert Lester Tilley, Jr. was 25 years old at the time of his death.
If you have any information regarding the murder of Robert Lester Tilley, Jr., please contact the Cold Case Homicide Unit at MNPDColdCase@nashville.gov
You can also call the Nashville Police Department’s Crime Stoppers Division anonymously at 615-742-7463
We feel it is important to put a face to the name. If you have a photograph you would like to submit to be posted (as an addition or substitution) please email: MNPDColdCase@nashville.gov