Bill Freeman, one of Nashville's most prolific property developers and a leading Democratic Party fundraiser, has died. He was 73 years old.

Freeman co-founded Freeman Webb Co., a multifamily real estate investment and management firm with over 18,000 rental homes and apartments across Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi, Kentucky and Alabama. More than 9,000 of those rental units are in the Nashville area.

He also owned the alt-weekly Nashville Scene and business-focused Nashville Post newspapers.

"Tonight, we lost Bill Freeman," Mayor Freddie O'Connell wrote Sunday night on X . "Bill was many things — real estate visionary, mayoral candidate, pilot, media magnate, staunch Democrat — and friend. Our city, state, and nation are better for his tenacity and commitment. We will miss him dearly, and my heart is with his family."

Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore also shared his grief at the loss of his friend.

"Yesterday, Nashville lost one of its kindest and most dedicated champions," Gore wrote, in an email to The Tennessean. "Bill Freeman was a giant in our city, known as much for his role in helping Nashville grow as he was for his commitment to ensuring that all of its residents could thrive. Bill always sought out new ideas and knowledge in his pursuit of a better future for his community — one of the traits that made him such an important leader in our local media landscape. I was lucky enough to see that curiosity firsthand when he and his son Bob joined me on a trip to Antarctica to better understand the impacts of the climate crisis. He will be sorely missed. My heart goes out to his beloved wife Babs and his sons, Harvey, Mike, and State Rep. Bob Freeman."

Metro police spokesperson Don Aaron said they were called to Freeman's home Sunday night, where he was found dead.

"The Police Department responded to a 911 call concerning a shooting at 7:46 p.m. Sunday," Aaron said. "Mr. Freeman was found deceased. His death is being investigated as a suicide."

Freeman Webb is known for accepting low-income Section 8 subsidized federal housing vouchers, which many landlords avoid.

"The bulk of our portfolio has an average rent of just over 1,000 dollars," Freeman told The Tennessean. "We’re a naturally affordable landlord. We rent to the people who keep Nashville running."

Freeman, a pilot, served on the Metro Nashville Airport Authority Board for eight years under three mayors before he stepped down in March . In 2023, he retired from running Freeman Webb and his son, Bob Freeman, took over.

When he retired, Freeman said he was "excited at the prospect of traveling more and enjoying our grandchildren as they grow" with his wife Babs.

Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry wrote on X: "Bill Freeman was an incredible force for good in our city and for Democrats at the national, state, and local levels. His commitment to help others ran deep and was evident in his love for his family and his willingness to step up and serve Nashville. I had the honor of appointing him to the Airport Authority, where he was able to combine his passion for flying and his desire to see Nashville grow and thrive. Bill passed along his heart for service to his entire family, especially his son, State Rep. Bob Freeman, and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him."

On his time overseeing Nashville International Airport's management, he said: "I recall the days when Nashville's airport was considered an efficient but small airport in a mid-sized, Southern city. Since its first days as Berry Field to its growth in the 1980s and to its major expansion goals today, the Nashville International Airport has become a record-breaking, major hub in our country's air transportation system."

Freeman is survived by his wife, Babs Tinsley Freeman, and three sons Harvey, Mike and Bob Freeman.

The Tennessee Democratic Party called Freeman "a beacon of kindness, wisdom and a stalwart community leader" in a statement on X.