Armed Encounter Leads to Officer-Involved Shooting on Nashville Highway in Columbia
COLUMBIA, TN – June 3, 2025 | 6:30 AM — A tense early-morning confrontation resulted in an officer-involved shooting after Columbia Police encountered an armed man walking in traffic on Nashville Highway.
Just after 1:00 a.m., officers responded to multiple calls regarding a suspicious male walking along the 1700 block of Nashville Highway, reportedly attempting to approach passing vehicles. When officers arrived, they found a white male armed with a handgun in the roadway.
For nearly ten minutes, officers gave repeated commands for the man to stop and drop his weapon. Despite these efforts, the individual refused to comply and continued walking southbound, weaving in and out of the traffic lane and median.
As the man neared the 1500 block of Nashville Highway, a more populated area, and continued to pose a threat while armed, a Columbia Police officer discharged their weapon. The suspect was struck, effectively ending the advance and immediate danger.
The man was transported to Vanderbilt Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery. His identity and current condition have not been released at this time.
No officers were injured during the incident.
Following standard procedure, District Attorney Brent Cooper was notified, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) was requested to take over the investigation. The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave with pay, pending the outcome of the investigation, in accordance with departmental policy.
The TBI is now the lead agency, and any additional inquiries or updates will be handled through their office.
Authorities ask anyone with information related to the incident to contact the TBI.
Our thoughts are with all those impacted as the investigation continues.
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