NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A man walking on Interstate 65 in Nashville has been shot and killed by law enforcement
Metro police said nine law enforcement personnel consisting of MNPD officers, Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers and an off-duty Mt. Juliet officer shot at the man, killing him.
Watch below: Don Aaron with the Metro Nashville Police Department gives an update on the shooting.
TBI identified the man as 37-year-old Landon Eastep.
According to Metro police, a THP trooper stopped a man sitting on a guard on I-65 north around 2 p.m. The trooper stopped to offer him a ride off the interstate and after a brief conversation the two walked toward the trooper's car. Metro police said then, the man pushed away from the trooper and had a box cutter in his hand. At this point, the trooper called MNPD for assistance.
While officers were en route to the area, an off-duty Mt. Juliet police officer driving by saw what was happening and stopped to assist. Metro officers and another THP trooper joined, and attempted to talk to the man, who was described as being "agitated about something."
Metro police said after about 30 minutes, the man, who had the box cutter in his left hand and his right hand in his pocket, made an abrupt motion with his right hand. Police said the man was holding a "silver shiny cylindrical object" that was not a firearm in his right hand.
Police said because of the man's quick movement and officers not knowing what the object was, the group of nine officers shot at him. He was hit several times and pronounced dead after being taken to a Nashville hospital.
Video of the shooting was recorded and posted by witnesses, and is now drawing criticism online.
Warning: Gunshots can be heard in the video. Viewer discretion is advised.
Special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are investigating the shooting. The executive director of Metro Nashville's Community Oversight Board was also at the scene.
The situation caused heavy traffic as the interstate is shut down on both sides of the roadway. By 6:30 p.m., the interstate was fully reopened.
