Landon Eastep, 37, was killed after about 30 minutes of negotiations, during which traffic was halted along Interstate 65 near Nashville Thursday, authorities said.
Officers opened fire after he appeared “to adjust his stance and reach for what was later identified as a metal cylindrical object at his waist,” the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) said in a statement.
It was later determined not to be a firearm.
“The circumstances surround the death of Mr. Eastep by MNPD and other members of local law enforcement are gravely disturbing,” the board said in a written statement. “Director [Jill] Fitcheard will initiate an independent investigation into the shooting.”
The board is an independent body established by the metro government with the power to investigate allegations of police misconduct but does not have the direct ability to discipline officers or change policy. It was created in 2018 after being approved by voters.
An independent investigation of the incident had already been launched by the TBI on behalf of the Davidson County District Attorney’s Office.
The Nashville officer who fired the final two shots has been stripped of his police powers during the investigation, while five other officers have been reassigned to desk duties.
Standoff began on the shoulder of the highway
The standoff began around 2 p.m. Thursday. Eastep had…
Source : cnn
