Video shows officer killing man with butcher’s knives

A video released by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department on Saturday shows an officer fatally shooting a man armed with butcher’s knives.

Body camera images broadcast during a press conference shows the incident on Friday night as the officer, identified as Christopher Royer, was investigating a license plate issue with a white Mercedes Sudan, according to MNPD spokesman Don Aaron.

The Mercedes license plate was registered on a 1998 green Chevrolet, Aaron said.

Aaron said the driver wasn’t a problem, but the passenger rushed out of the car with two butcher knives, one in each hand.

The footage, taken from Royer’s body camera, shows him parking behind the Mercedes, then exiting the car as a man exits the Mercedes.

Royer is heard saying “ stay in the car ” and “ drop the knife ” as the man runs down the street, then into Royer’s vehicle. The officer is heard repeatedly saying ‘he has a knife’, referring to the suspect.

The man then gets into Royer’s vehicle and closes the door, prompting Royer to rush towards the car. As the man closes the door, Royer says “man, drop the knife!” I don’t want to shoot you.

Another person, who has reportedly been identified as the driver of the Mercedes, is also heard begging the man to stop.

The man then charges towards Royer, who recoils as the man approaches. The officer said “drop it” before firing three shots. The man then collapses to the ground.

At the end of the streak, Royer says “man, what are you doing, man? Go! I didn’t want to have to do this.

After the footage was released, Aaron said the unidentified man died shortly after arriving at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Royer, a four-year veteran of the department, is on an administrative assignment while the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Davidson County District Attorney’s Office investigate the incident, Aaron said. The MNPD is also conducting an administrative review of the interaction.

Police chief John Drake said five other officers assisted the man. He said Royer probably had a Taser, but noted that incidents like what Royer experienced are “fatal” situations.

“He de-escalated by withdrawing, he stepped back again, ordering the individual to drop the weapon,” he said. “In these situations, it’s deadly, and you can’t use less deadly if someone attacks you with a knife.”