us-regions authorities released body camera crime” target=”_blank”>footage <involved crime” target=”_blank”>shooting< Police Department and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) said. The deadly encounter shut down traffic on a normally bustling travel corridor in Tennessee.
The encounter began shortly before 2 p.m. local time, when a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper first spotted Eastep on the shoulder of the interstate. Officers tried for about a half-hour to deescalate the situation.
NASHVILLE HUSTLER CLUB PATRONS BRAWLED, FIRED GUN TOWARD STAFF — THEN FLED, AUTHORITIES SAY
One of the officers can be heard asking Eastep to drop the knife. As he walks closer to the officers, one can be heard saying, “Just drop the knife, brother. Let’s help you out … Please, brother.”
Landon Eastep
“Please drop it, brother,” he says. “This is not the answer … we don’t want to hurt you.”
At one point, an officer is heard asking Eastep if he has a gun.
Officers can be heard pleading with Eastep, “Don’t do it,” in the moments before he appears to pull his right hand out of his pocket or from behind him.
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Nine officers from three agencies fired at the man when he quickly pulled an unknown “silver, shiny cylindrical object” from his right pocket, Metro Nashville Police Department spokesman Don Aaron said. He said he did not know what the object was but said it was not a firearm.
Eastep was struck multiple times and died, Aaron said. No officers were injured.
TBI is investigating the shooting but said it will not identify the officers involved.
