The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has opened investigations into five different officer-involved shootings in the last nine days, including the shooting of an off-duty Metro Nashville officer.
According to a statement from the Metro Nashville Police Department, Officer Darrell Osment was “inexplicably” shot in the back “without warning or provocation” while walking his dog Thursday night. Osment said he was in plain clothes when he encountered a man he did not know on the street.
“Just as they passed each other, Osment said the man suddenly and inexplicably shot him in the back of his shoulder. Osment fell to the ground. The man fired a second shot, which hit the ground near Osment. Osment managed to get up and run. The gunman got into a Ford Flex vehicle parked at a nearby church and drove away,” the department said in its statement.
The suspect, identified as William Johnson, Jr., was later killed after officers initiated a chase on Interstate 440, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). Johnson reportedly fired several times at responding officers before he was shot.
Since May 17, the TBI has opened investigations into five officer-involved shootings across the state, including Osment’s shooting.
In a May 17 incident, officers with the Germantown Police Department were called to a domestic disturbance and encountered a man with “several firearms who refused orders to drop his weapons.”
“For reasons still under investigation, three officers fired at the man, fatally wounding him,” the TBI said in a press release.
Early the next day, a man was killed by officers in Hamilton County after he attempted to flee on foot during a routine traffic stop.
Another investigation was opened Thursday into an incident involving officers from the Hendersonville Police Department who were responding to a report of a domestic disturbance between a husband and wife.
“Shortly after they arrived, officers encountered the husband, identified as James David Hochstetler , who was reportedly intoxicated and combative with officers. For reasons still under investigation, the situation escalated and at least one officer fired his service weapon, striking Hochstetler, who was subsequently transported to the hospital for treatment of injuries not immediately believed to be life-threatening,” said the TBI.
On Sunday night, deputies with the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office were shot at in a wooded area by a man who had climbed a tree and mentioned harming himself, the TBI announced in a press release.
All of the investigations are still active and ongoing. The TBI doesn’t identify officers involved in the incidents.
– – –
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Metro Officer Darrell Osment” by Nashville.gov.
[…] according to the TBI. Press reports indicate that the agency has opened up investigations into six incidents since May 17. For comparison, the TBI investigated three officer-involved shootings in April and […]