Soldier returning from Iraq stabbed, killed

NASHVILLE (AP) — A soldier who recently returned from a deployment to Iraq was killed early Tuesday morning following an argument with another man about the victim’s girlfriend, police said.

Army Sgt. Jeffery Kevin Rayner, 27, of Nashville was stabbed twice in the chest in an argument with William Keith Gillum, 36, of Nashville, police said.

The stabbing took place in the Brentwood apartment of Rayner’s girlfriend, Natalie Chipps, 19. The pair had been confronted by Gillum earlier Monday night at a bar. Gillum was also dating Chipps, police said.

When the soldier and woman returned to the apartment around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, Gillum was waiting in the apartment and began arguing with Rayner, stabbing him with a switchblade. Another witness in the apartment received a minor knife wound trying to break up the fight.

Rayner was pronounced dead on arrival at Southern Hills Medical Center.

Gillum was arrested Tuesday afternoon and charged with criminal homicide and aggravated assault. His bond was set at $300,000.