An inmate was shot and killed after an officer-involved shooting at the Vanderbilt Women's Clinic at 100 Oaks Mall in Nashville.
Officials said the shooting happened Wednesday afternoon around 1:30 p.m. in the third floor of the building on the 700 block of Thompson Lane.
Officials with the Metro Nashville Police Department said, two Robertson County officers, 36-year-old Deputy Josh Wiley and Deputy Tomisha Jones, were escorting a prisoner, 37-year-old Rodney Cole, at a clinic in the 100 Oaks Mall.
Metro Police said Cole asked to use the restroom; so Deputy Wiley escorted him into the bathroom.
Minutes later, Deputy Jones heard yelling coming from the restroom. She ran in to find the inmate stabbing Deputy Wiley with a long screwdriver. A struggle ensued between the three of them in which multiple shots were fired.
Deputy Wiley was critically injured and rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. On Friday, authorities confirmed he was in stable condition.
Cole was also injured in the shooting, but died at the scene.
Robertson County Sheriff Bill Holt released the following statement on Thursday:
“In law enforcement, we train for the worst, but pray it never happens. Yesterday, an inmate viciously and
violently attacked one of our deputies. Unfortunately, my deputies had to respond in the way no law enforcement wants to – with deadly force. One of the deputies suffered multiple gunshot wounds, and the
other deputy has suffered the traumatic stress of the incident. The support from our local community has been tremendous, and the assistance from our fellow law enforcement partners including Metro Nashville Police Department and Vanderbilt University Police Department has been incredible and humbling. The care provided to Josh Wiley and his family by the Metro emergency medical staff and the doctors and nurses from Vanderbilt University Medical Center has been outstanding. Deputy Wiley is still in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit after surgery yesterday and is facing major surgery today. We ask that you continue to keep Deputy Wiley and his family in your prayers. Please also keep Deputy Tomisha Jones and her family in your prayers as she deals with the traumatic stress of this incident.”
According to reports, Cole had a doctor's appointment at the Vanderbilt Comprehensive Care Clinic, which strictly deals with patients with HIV. He was a convicted bank robber.
The building was evacuated and patients and employees were told to take shelter due to the shooting. Officials with Vanderbilt issued an alert asking people at their campus to seek shelter immediately.
Around 4 p.m. Wednesday, the all clear was given.
Shooting Keeps Patients Inside During Lockdown At 100 Oaks
John Howser, Chief Communications Officer for Vanderbilt University Medical Center, released the following statement:
“This afternoon at one of our clinics on the Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks campus there was an incident involving law enforcement officers from Robertson County escorting an inmate. The incident was quickly resolved but resulted in the inmate being shot and is deceased and one officer being transported to Vanderbilt University Adult Hospital for treatment. There were no other injuries from this incident. In accordance our policies, and out of an abundance of caution, employees and visitors on the One Hundred Oaks campus were advised to shelter in place while a thorough sweep of the building was conducted by law enforcement officers. The safety and well-being of our patients and employees is always our first concern."
Officials said Cole was sentenced to 15 years in Montgomery County in 2014 for aggravated robbery. Reports stated he was awaiting his sentencing for a bank robbery conviction in April 2017 which stemmed from the case of a hold up at Capital Bank in Clarksville in 2013.
Further reports stated Cole had previous convictions for robbery, attempted carjacking, aggravated burglary, and evading arrest in Davidson County.
