Following an investigation by agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, District Attorney General Tom P. Thompson, Jr. confirmed an officer-involved shooting in Wilson County was justified.
During the incident on March 20, Lieutenant Detective Scott Massey fired one shot that injured Christian Whitten.
The TBI collected information from witnesses, police officers, Detective Massey, and Whitten leading to the conclusion that the shooting was justified.
Reports stated a complaint came in on the morning of March 20 from Wholesale, Inc. concerning another vehicle theft from the property in the 8000 block of Eastgate Boulevard in Lebanon.
Similar incidents had happened at the business on March 8 and 10.
Two thefts happened at the business on the morning of March 20. The Chrysler 300 that was used during the theft was the same one that was used during the previous thefts earlier in March.
Around 9:45 a.m. on March 20, someone got out of the Chrysler 300 and stole a 2016 Cadillac Escalade.
Then, around 10:50 a.m. that same day, someone again got out of the Chrysler 300 and stole a 2017 Dodge Challenger Hellcat.
The Chrysler was left at the scene following the second theft, so detectives responded to investigate. They learned the vehicle was registered to Whitten.
Surveillance was then set up on the Chrysler 300 to see if anyone would come back for the vehicle.
When a white four-door car got to the scene, police said they saw a man, later identified as Whitten, get out and approach the Chrysler 300.
Police ordered everyone to get out of both vehicles. All complied except Whitten who struggled with police at first then fled by driving over a curb, down an embankment, through the grass, and onto Eastgate Boulevard.
That’s when Detective Massey got into his vehicle and pursued Whitten. He was not in a marked patrol car, but he did active his lights and siren.
Two marked patrol cars also joined the pursuit.
The chase continued onto Interstate 40 toward Nashville, which was when Whitten reached speeds of more than 100 miles per hour.
The two patrol cars passed the Beckwith Road exit, but Detective Massey said he spotted a vehicle he believed to be the Chrysler 300. He pulled off there, and a citizen told him to look down the embankment where the detective saw Whitten in his vehicle. Whitten was stuck with his wheels spinning.
According to the detective, Whitten would not comply to any of his commands to get out of the vehicle or to show his hands. Once Whitten did exit the vehicle, he kept “rummaging” in his pants, according to one witness, and was verbally combative at least once with the detective. Whitten also tried to get back in his vehicle, which the detective stopped from happening. He then reached into his vehicle, while still refusing to show his hands.
At one point, Whitten reached into his back waistline, and Detective Massey stated he feared for his life, believing Whitten was reaching for a weapon.
Detective Massey said he was “scared to death” and “felt like he had to do what he did.” He made the instantaneous decision to fire one shot at Whitten.
Whitten was injured and immediately went down on the ground. That’s when the detective was able to approach him and gain control of his hands.
Officers then arrived at the scene and administered medical treatment until an ambulance got to the scene.
Whitten was at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for several days before he was released to the Wilson County Jail.
