Tennessee Cop Fatally Shoots Black Man Who Pointed Gun At Him; Investigation Underway

KEY POINTS

The officer involved, Dylan Ramos was placed on administrative assignment
Police released bodycam footage and audio recordings of the incident
The case is being investigated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation

A cop in Nashville, Tennessee, fatally shot a Black man after the 47-year-old pointed a gun at him. The police officer was placed on administrative assignment while authorities investigate the shooting, officials said Monday.

The incident occurred Sunday night in North Nashville after the police officer, identified as Dylan Ramos, responded to a report of a man in the street with a gun. Ramos reportedly shot the unidentified man after he refused to obey his request to drop the weapon, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said as per the AP report.

A fatal police shooting has occurred in the 900 block of Buchanan St. A North Precinct officer responded to a call concerning a man yelling in the street with a gun. During the police response, the man was shot. No officers hurt. pic.twitter.com/6bEeq3g3HM
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) January 30, 2023

The man was rushed to a hospital, and he was pronounced dead. No officers were injured in the incident, reports said.

The victim has not yet been identified, as officials are working to notify his next of kin.

Meanwhile, the Nashville police have released the 911 call records where witnesses could be heard calling for help after spotting the man with his weapon out on the street. "He needs to stop ... before he gets something that he doesn't need, because he's pointing his gun, like seriously," a witness told the 911 operator on call, according to the audio released.

While one of the witnesses was still on call with the operator, Ramos, who has been with the department for three years, arrived at the scene. The entire interaction between Ramos and the man reportedly lasted about 20 seconds before the shot was fired.

The bodycam footage released by the department shows the officer approaching the man and repeatedly calling out to him to lower his weapon, while the man walks away from him.

Shortly after, the officer is heard shouting: "Do not touch that! Drop the gun! Drop the gun!". The sounds of gunshots followed.

The case is being investigated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

"TBI agents are working to independently determine the series of events leading to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews. The TBI acts solely as fact-finders in its cases and does not determine whether the actions of an officer were justified in these types of matters," the agency said in a statement.