NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Members of the Nashville branch of the NAACP joined the family of a man who was shot and killed by nine law enforcement officers on Interstate 65 on Friday night to express their concern for how the situation was handled.
During an emotional press conference, Chelsey Eastep said while her husband Landon was agitated, he did nothing to warrant nine law enforcement officers shooting him.
Watch the full press conference below:
The situation began on Thursday when a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper saw Landon Eastep, 37, sitting on a guard on I-65 N. The trooper stopped to help him and an off-duty Mt. Juliet officer driving by pulled over to assist before additional law enforcement arrived.
In all, a group consisting of six Metro Nashville Police officers, two THP troopers and the off-duty Mt. Juliet officer spent about 30 minutes talking with Eastep. The interstate was shut down in both directions as the officers negotiated with him.
Metro police said Eastep had a box cutter in his left hand and his right hand in his pocket during most of the discussion. Metro police said at one point Eastep made an abrupt motion, pulling his right hand out of his pocket while holding a "silver shiny cylindrical object." All nine officers then fired their weapons, killing him.
Late Thursday night, Metro police released body camera footage of the moments before Eastep died.
The case is now being handled by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. MNPD said the department will also conduct its own internal review of the shooting.
