NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The TBI is investigating, after a SWAT member shot and killed a man wielding a sword in Nashville.
Metro Nashville Police have identified that man as 54-year-old Jason Sexton.
According to MNPD, officers attempted to arrest Sexton on Friday, but he fled from police. Sexton had outstanding warrants for order of protection violations and criminal trespassing.
Officers first became aware of Sexton being armed with a sword around 8 a.m. Saturday morning, when they responded to a call at the Shell market at 2112 Charlotte Avenue.
The store clerk told officers there was a dispute over paying for coffee. Sexton left the store but returned later carrying the sword. The clerk locked the doors before he was able to enter the store. The clerk reported that Sexton yelled, "Come outside now, I'll kill you."
An arrest warrant was issued against him.
A relative of Sexton's called 911 about an hour later, saying that the family believed he was a danger to others and that he was armed with a sword.
Sexton's Hyundai sedan was spotted by a police helicopter at a car wash on Dickerson Pike and monitored his driving until he came to a stop on Cheshire Drive. Officers on the ground followed behind his vehicle.
According to police, Sexton got out of the vehicle with the sword while a woman stayed inside. That woman told police she was being held against her will. Patrol officers attempted to get him to surrender and spoke with him off and on for more than an hour. Several SWAT officers arrived at the scene and began developing a plan.
SWAT member Joshua Baney was directed to block Sexton's vehicle with his truck.
A release from MNPD states, "Baney, a 12-year MNPD veteran, was initially directed to assist in blocking Sexton’s vehicle with his police truck. He started to do that, got out, took up a position at the rear of a patrol vehicle, and fired on Sexton three times as he held the sword."
A segment of Baney's body-worn camera footage was released.
In the video, Baney does not issue any verbal warnings or commands and can only be heard telling another officer to "watch out" as he walks past them.
He then aims and shoots Sexton, who falls to the ground and drops the sword. While Sexton is on the ground, Baney fires two more times.
According to MNPD, Baney has been decommissioned and relieved of all police authority while the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation investigated the shooting.
MNPD is also conducting a separate administrative investigation.
This is a developing story, and updates will be made as information becomes available.
