Nashville police shot and killed a man accused of taking a housemate hostage at knifepoint after authorities said the suspect approached them with the gun.
An altercation Monday night led to a man taking another person hostage at a home, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in a statement. Metro Nashville Police entered the home and attempted to speak with the suspect through a door, then ran into the room when he heard screaming, according to the release.
Joshua Kersey, 30, approached officers with a large knife, the office said, and an officer shot and killed him. No officers were injured.
A statement from Metro Nashville Police identified Officer Cole Ranseen as the one who shot Kersey. The department said its officers attempted to negotiate with Kersey for about 40 minutes through the closed bedroom door until they heard a struggle inside. Ranseen broke down the door with other officers and fired shots while Kersey struggled with the housemate, the department said.
Kersey's sister had called for help after her brother intoxicatedly took the keys to her vehicle, left and then returned and got into a heated argument with family members, including her mother, sister and her four children, who left the house before the agents. came in, police said. Authorities did not provide details about Kersey's connection to the hostage.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Metro Nashville Police said investigations into the shooting are ongoing and more information was expected to be released later Tuesday.
