The three Metro police officers involved in a fatal shooting near the West Precinct Wednesday morning have been identified. And the man who was killed is tentatively ID’d as a 31-year-old from outside Birmingham.
Police have released edited body camera footage, in what has now become standard practice for MNPD.
The video shows that K-9 Officer Richard Clemmons, who has spent eight years with the department, approached the man (whose face is blurred) as he sat in a Toyota 4Runner outside a Cricket store on Charlotte Avenue near White Bridge Road. Police had deemed the parked vehicle suspicious.
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The video shows Clemmons told the driver to drop a knife, which is not visible from any of the camera angles. If he responded, he could not be heard on the footage. When he didn’t comply, the video shows Clemmons calling for backup. Officers Jonathan Phipps and Colin Blee arrived within minutes.
As soon as they pulled up, the video shows the man started to open the door to his SUV and run toward officers who are still shouting at him. Police say all three fired at the man who fell to the ground.
Everyone involved appears to be white. Police have released photos of a black pocket knife they say the man was holding.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is leading the review but has released a less detailed summary of the events at this point. And the TBI will leave it up to the Davidson County prosecutor to decide whether the actions of police were unlawful.
This is a developing story. Some things that get reported early on, by the media or law enforcement, will later turn out to be wrong. We will update as the situation develops.
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