Michael Collazo

I am Michael Adrian Collazo, born on April 17th, 1991, in Nashville, Tennessee. My
family, rooted in Tennessee, consists of my parents, Sharon and Reynaldo, my elder brother
Rey Carlos, and my half-sister Dianna. Sharon is originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, while
Reynaldo hails from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Growing up, I spent my entire life in Middle
Tennessee. Following high school, I met my wife, Cassie. We married in 2015 and together,
we have been blessed with two daughters, Everleigh Jean and Leonna Jane
In my early years, I nurtured aspirations to make a meaningful impact on my life. After
completing high school, I chose to enlist in the Marine Corps, dedicating a total of 8 years
and earning my college degree while actively participating in the Reserves.
Post-college, I embraced the opportunity to attend the Police Academy with the
Nashville Police Department. Upon graduation, I initially served as a patrol officer for
approximately two years before transitioning to a Flex Team, where I dedicated three
additional years to this proactive uniformed unit. Subsequently, I moved to a Crime
Suppression Unit, focusing on street-level narcotic cases with a specialized team for several
years.

After that experience, I transitioned to a Field Intelligence Unit, focusing on more
complex cases for extended durations. It was within this unit that I found myself on the day
of the shooting at the Convent School—a pivotal moment that would forever reshape both
my life and my career.

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On March 27, 2023, a lone gunman entered the Convent School located at 33 Burton
Hills Blvd, Nashville, Tennessee, and tragically took the lives of six individuals. I, along with
four other officers, were among the first responders that day. Our small team swiftly
entered the school, searching for the gunman. Ultimately, our unit encountered the
shooter, leading to a confrontation and resulting in an exchange of gunfire.