NASHVILLE, TN — Police in Nashville are looking for a 38-year-old man accused of attacking a woman with a hammer and leaving her seriously hurt Saturday morning. Investigators say arrest warrants have been issued for Ross Peterson on charges of aggravated assault, harassment and theft of property.

According to police, Peterson and the woman had previously dated. Officers were called to her home around 7:15 a.m. and found her in the backyard with extensive injuries to her head and face. Police later recovered a hammer at the scene and collected it as evidence.

Officers were already at the home hours before the attack

Police said the case began unfolding before sunrise, when officers had already responded to the same home after the woman reported threatening text messages from Peterson. She also told police he came to her doorstep, where the two argued.

Officers helped her obtain an order of protection and a harassment warrant against Peterson. That warrant was issued around 6:15 a.m. Saturday, about an hour before officers were called back to the residence and found her injured.

The sequence of events suggests police were attempting to address the dispute as it escalated. Investigators say the earlier call involved threats and an in-person confrontation, while the later response ended with the woman needing emergency help.

Police say Peterson returned and the violence followed

Investigators say Peterson came back to the residence a short time after the protection steps were taken. The woman heard a knock at the door and looked outside, where she reported seeing Peterson apparently vandalizing her car.

Police said she went outside to confront him, and the attack happened shortly afterward. Officers allege Peterson struck her with a hammer before leaving the area. They also say he took her cellphone during the incident.

The warrants later issued against Peterson include aggravated assault and theft, in addition to the harassment charge connected to the earlier threats. Police have not said what prompted the confrontation beyond the couple’s prior relationship and the reported dispute that morning.

Victim found with severe injuries to her head and face

When officers arrived after the second call, they found the woman lying in the backyard with what police described as extensive injuries to her head and face. The hammer was found on the ground nearby and taken into evidence.

The injuries were serious enough that the woman’s family later turned to online fundraising for help. Her mother started a GoFundMe to assist with medical bills, legal expenses and other costs while she recovers.

According to the fundraiser, the woman is currently unable to work or return home. The fundraising page also warns that some of the images posted there are graphic.

Investigators have not found the suspect yet

Police said efforts to locate Peterson have so far been unsuccessful. Anyone who sees him or knows where he may be is being asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463 or the Department of Emergency Communications at 615-862-8600.

Authorities also said Peterson is on probation for a felony methamphetamine possession conviction in Williamson County. That detail is part of the background investigators are weighing as they continue the search.

For now, the case remains an active manhunt tied to a reported domestic dispute that quickly turned violent after police had already intervened once that morning.

Community support grows as the woman recovers

As investigators continue looking for Peterson, the woman’s family is focused on her recovery and the costs that come with it. The fundraiser says the injuries have kept her from returning to work or home life, adding to the strain caused by the attack.

The case has drawn attention because of how fast events unfolded: threats, police intervention, a protection order and then, within hours, a violent alleged assault. It is also a reminder that protection steps do not always end a dangerous situation immediately.

Police have not released additional details about the woman’s condition beyond describing her injuries as severe. The investigation remains active as officers try to locate Peterson and determine the full sequence of what happened that morning.