Armed Man Fatally Shot by Security Officer at Nashville Federal Courthouse
Associated Press
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE — An armed man was fatally shot by a federal security officer Thursday morning after allegedly attempting to fire a handgun and pulling a knife at a security checkpoint inside a downtown Nashville courthouse, authorities said.
The confrontation occurred shortly before 9:30 a.m. Oct. 8 at the Fred D. Thompson Federal Building and Courthouse, located in the 700 block of Church Street.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation identified the deceased man as Jack Henson II, 42, who entered the courthouse carrying a firearm and a knife.
According to Nashville Police, Henson attempted to discharge his handgun, but the weapon malfunctioned. Authorities said he then produced a knife, prompting an armed security officer stationed near the entrance to open fire.
Henson was struck by gunfire and transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. No security officers or law enforcement personnel were injured.
The courthouse entrance serves as a primary access point for employees, visitors and members of the public. Like other federal courthouses, the facility uses security screening procedures intended to prevent weapons and other prohibited items from entering secured areas.
The shooting prompted a significant law enforcement response in downtown Nashville. The nearby Nashville Public Library was evacuated, and officers conducted security checks around the courthouse and surrounding area.
The Tennessean
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob McGuire, whose office is located inside the courthouse, described the incident as highly unusual for the facility.
McGuire said the courthouse had previously experienced incidents involving disruptive individuals who required removal, but nothing approaching the seriousness of Thursday's armed confrontation.
Investigators also searched a vehicle associated with Henson but reported finding nothing threatening inside.
Authorities have not established a motive for the incident or explained why Henson entered the courthouse armed.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is conducting an independent investigation at the request of Davidson County District Attorney General Glenn Funk and the U.S. Marshals Service.
TBI agents are collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses to determine the sequence of events leading to the shooting.
The agency emphasized that its role is to establish the facts surrounding the incident, while the district attorney general will determine whether the security officer's use of deadly force was legally justified.
The investigation remains ongoing.