NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A 23-year-old man was shot and killed by a Metro Nashville officer on Saturday night following hours of negotiation with police. The man has been identified as Jacob Griffin. This is the fifth officer-involved shooting in Metro Nashville this year.
The officer-involved shooting is currently under investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Community Oversight Board and the District Attorney's office.
On Sunday, Metro police released the initial 911 call and three body camera clips from the interaction.
The TBI is leading the investigation into Saturday night's fatal shooting involving an MNPD SWAT officer in a wooded area in the 6700 block of Nolensville Pike. This critical incident briefing contains body camera video concerning the case. https://t.co/AY8L2JYmlg
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) May 2, 2021
Metro Police Chief John Drake said the shooting happened behind a Goodwill on Nolensville Pike in a wooded area. Officers were initially called out to the area by the man's mother, who reported her son possibly being suicidal and threatening harm to people nearby. His mother told 911 dispatchers her son is homeless and lives behind the Goodwill, where he was formerly employed until he was fired six months ago. Griffin's mother is heard telling dispatchers that her son has been texting her that he plans to kill her and other people, and sent pictures of a full magazine of bullets.
Two South Precinct officers found Griffin in a wooded area around 3:30 p.m. Metro police spokesman Don Aaron said Griffin told the officers he had a gun but refused to surrender it. One of the officers attempted to use a Taser on Griffin, but it was ineffective. Although body cameras are currently being deployed to Metro Nashville police officers, many South Precinct officers still don't have them, and this interaction was not recorded.
At 4:10 p.m., police negotiator and SWAT officers were requested to the scene for assistance and about an hour later mobile crisis staff from the Mental Health Co-Op arrived and signed emergency committal papers for Griffin.
Nashville's SWAT officers do have body cameras and the clips released by Metro police were recorded from SWAT officers who responded.
Aaron said officers attempted to negotiate with Griffin for hours, and around 7:20 p.m., Griffin fired one shot from his pistol. Shortly after, SWAT officers attempted to take him into custody, but police say Griffin fired another shot and officers, and SWAT officer Matthew Grindstaff then fired back at Griffin.
Griffin was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he later died on Saturday night. No officers were hurt in the incident.
