Who Is Jocques Scott Clemmons? Nashville NAACP Wants Investigation Into Black Man Shot In The Back By Police

The Nashville branch of the NAACP has called for an "immediate and transparent, complete and expedient" investigation into the shooting of a black man in the back by police in the Tennessee city Friday. The organization on Monday also called for body cameras on all Nashville police officers.

Nashville Mayor Megan Barry and Chief of Police Steve Anderson met with African-American clergy members Monday and promised a full investigation, according to a tweet from the official Metro Nashville Police Department Twitter account.

Jocques Scott Clemmons, 31, was shot twice in the back by a five-year veteran of the Nashville police force following a physical altercation stemming from a traffic stop Friday afternoon. Clemmons died during surgery hours later.

Officer Josh Lippert approached Clemmons for running a stop sign after Clemmons had parked his vehicle, which prompted Clemmons to charge Lippert, according to a statement from police. Video from a nearby surveillance camera showed a foot chase and a second physical struggle before Lippert fired at a fleeing Clemmons, who was armed. Police recovered a loaded .357 magnum at the scene.

According to police, the gun fell to the concrete during the second physical confrontation when Clemmons was knocked to the ground. Clemmons managed to pick up the gun and took off running while refusing Lippert's commands to drop the weapon. Police said Lippert fired three times while "believing he was in imminent danger" as Clemmons was moving between two parked cars.

The local NAACP president stood by members of Clemmons's family to call for an investigation Monday, The Tennessean reported.

"We value the efforts of police when they are serving and protecting however we will not standby and allow the disproportionate violence against African Americans," said Nashville NAACP President Ludye N. Wallace. "We need an immediate and transparent, complete and expedient investigation that is led by the District Attorney and even if necessary, federal agencies."

Clemmons was serving an eight-year probation sentence for a 2014 cocaine conviction. In a statement, police speculated that Clemmons might have initially charged Lippert because he was in violation of his probation and federal and state law by illegally carrying the gun on public housing property. Clemmons has been arrested five times for assault and convicted once, The Tennessean reported.

Lippert was placed on administrative duty pending an investigation.