A Metro Nashville police officer is under investigation after shooting and killing a man who charged him with 2 butcher knives.
According to a MNPD spokesperson, North Precinct officer Royer was on patrol when he ran the license plate of a white Mercedes that was on Clarksville Pike. The plate came back registered to a green Chevrolet, so officer Royer initiated a traffic stop to investigate, near the intersection of Clarksville Pike and Summit Avenue in Bordeaux.
Investigators said the driver of the Mercedes was cooperating with the traffic stop, however, his passenger began exhibiting bizarre behavior. He immediately got out of the Mercedes with 2 large butcher knives, one in each hand, and began running around erratically. Then he ran around Royer's patrol car and got into the driver's seat. Officer Royer can be heard on the body camera telling the man to drop the knives.
The man driving the Mercedes, also heard on body camera, says "What are you doing?". It's unclear how the 2 knew each other, police said.
Body camera footage shows the man with the knives getting out of the patrol vehicle and moving towards officer Royer. Royer can be seen walking backwards while continuing to order the man to drop the knives. In the 8 seconds after Royer told the man he didn't want to shoot him, Royer called for backup, then the man started running towards him. Officer Royer fired 3 shots and the man fell to the ground.
Backup officers then rendered aid, until the paramedics arrived.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation was called to look into this case. The DA's office will also assist. Police said that they will investigate to find out what caused the man's bizarre behavior, and the shooting appeared justified. More information will be available as the Investigation moves forward. Thanks to kellyhound
According to a MNPD spokesperson, North Precinct officer Royer was on patrol when he ran the license plate of a white Mercedes that was on Clarksville Pike. The plate came back registered to a green Chevrolet, so officer Royer initiated a traffic stop to investigate, near the intersection of Clarksville Pike and Summit Avenue in Bordeaux.
Investigators said the driver of the Mercedes was cooperating with the traffic stop, however, his passenger began exhibiting bizarre behavior. He immediately got out of the Mercedes with 2 large butcher knives, one in each hand, and began running around erratically. Then he ran around Royer's patrol car and got into the driver's seat. Officer Royer can be heard on the body camera telling the man to drop the knives.
The man driving the Mercedes, also heard on body camera, says "What are you doing?". It's unclear how the 2 knew each other, police said.
Body camera footage shows the man with the knives getting out of the patrol vehicle and moving towards officer Royer. Royer can be seen walking backwards while continuing to order the man to drop the knives. In the 8 seconds after Royer told the man he didn't want to shoot him, Royer called for backup, then the man started running towards him. Officer Royer fired 3 shots and the man fell to the ground.
Backup officers then rendered aid, until the paramedics arrived.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation was called to look into this case. The DA's office will also assist. Police said that they will investigate to find out what caused the man's bizarre behavior, and the shooting appeared justified. More information will be available as the Investigation moves forward. Thanks to kellyhound
