On November 12th, 2023, a confrontation between Nashville police officers and a man wielding a knife culminated in a fatal officer-involved shooting. The incident, which occurred between 4:45 PM and 6:00 PM, began with a series of 9-1-1 calls reporting a man exhibiting erratic behavior along River Road, near Cumberland Heights.
Callers described the man as potentially armed, waving an unknown object, and throwing projectiles at passing vehicles. One caller, visibly shaken, recounted how the man struck her car, prompting her to flee the scene out of fear.
Nashville police car
Six minutes after the initial 9-1-1 call, two officers from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department arrived at the location. Body camera footage released to the public shows the officers attempting to engage with the individual, later identified by local media as 64-year-old Brandon John Brown.
The officers can be heard asking Brown to explain the situation, but he appears agitated and unresponsive to their requests. Despite their attempts to de-escalate the situation, Brown remains non-compliant and disregards their commands.
In an attempt to control the situation and ensure the safety of all parties involved, one officer deploys his taser twice. However, instead of subduing Brown, the taser deployment appears to escalate his aggression. Body camera footage shows Brown charging towards the officers with the knife, prompting them to discharge their firearms.
Nashville police officer
Medical personnel pronounced Brown dead at the scene. Neither officer sustained injuries during the altercation.
Following the incident, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) launched a use-of-force investigation, a standard procedure following officer-involved shootings. The Davidson County District Attorney’s Office and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department will conduct separate investigations into the incident.
The fatal encounter has sparked renewed debate surrounding police use of force, particularly in situations involving individuals experiencing mental health crises. Community members and advocacy groups are calling for increased mental health resources and alternative response models to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
