Tin Roof security guard allegedly beat guest to death – charges are being tightened

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WSMV) – Charges have been upgraded against the security guard who allegedly beat a bar patron to death.

According to the clerk of the Howard Gentry Criminal Court, Richard Cornelius was charged with aggravated assault resulting in death.

On February 18, former Tin Roof security guard Cornelius was accused of beating Austin Turner to death outside the Midtown bar.

Turner's family said Cornelius beat him unconscious while he was waiting for his Uber. He was in a coma for weeks until his family decided to take him off life support.

Cornelius had previously been charged with aggravated assault. At a court hearing in May, Cornelius' attorney Ben Powers argued that he acted in self-defense.

In June, a coroner in Nashville ruled that Turner's death was a homicide caused by blunt force trauma to the head.

Cornelius is scheduled to appear in court on September 25th to be arraigned.

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