9 police officers fatally shoot man on highway in US

By Darren Lyn

HOUSTON, Texas (AA) - A man in the US state of Tennessee was shot and killed by nine police officers after a tense standoff on a Nashville highway.

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department released a video statement on Friday and said a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper was driving on Interstate 65 when he noticed Landon Eastep, 37, sitting on a guardrail on Thursday.

The trooper stopped to give Eastep a ride but reported Eastep pulled out a box cutter.

Off-duty Mt. Juliet police officer James Kidd arrived and began talking to Eastep, waiting for backup.

A five-minute video of the standoff was released from an officer’s body camera detailing Kidd’s interaction with Eastep.

“Just drop it brother,” said Kidd. “Landon, come on, brother, let me help you out, you will not end up in jail.”

Right after the exchange, bodycam footage shows two officers raising their guns.

Kidd continued to talk for two and a half minutes, encouraging Eastep to drop the box cutter from his left hand and take his right hand out of his pocket.

“Look, I don’t have a damn vest on, and I still stopped here on the Interstate because I want you to go home today, I don’t want to end up dead on the side of the interstate … just drop the knife, get your hand out of your pocket. If that’s a gun what you got in there, don’t worry about it, we’ll figure it out.”

Less than 30 seconds later, Kidd had one last exchange.

“Landon, please, brother, don’t do it, don’t do it.”

At that moment, Eastep appears to pull something from his pocket.

Kidd shouts: “No! No! No!” And officers immediately fire at Eastep, as he drops to the ground.

The gunfire lasts about 5 seconds, until an officer yells, “Cease fire!”

“The metal cylindrical item Eastep pulled from his pocket was not a firearm,” said police spokesman Don Aaron. “Nine law enforcement personnel fired their weapons after Eastep took a stance, as if he had a firearm.”

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating the fatal shooting, which involved six MNPD officers, two Tennessee state troopers and the Mt. Juliet officer.

The six MNPD officers have been placed on administrative leave.