TBI Leading Investigation into Today's Fatal Police Shooting on Cheshire Drive

After a preliminary review of today's police shooting of a sword-carrying man on Cheshire Drive, Chief John Drake has directed that the officer involved, SWAT member Joshua Baney, be decommissioned and relieved of all police authority while the TBI investigates the shooting on behalf of District Attorney General Glenn Funk.

At 11:25 a.m. today, Baney fatally wounded Jason William Sexton, 54, who was armed with a sword outside his Hyundai sedan on Cheshire Drive. In the back seat of the car was a 26-year-old female who was reportedly being held against her will.

Officers first learned of Sexton being armed with a sword when they were dispatched to the Shell market at 2112 Charlotte Avenue at 8 a.m. today as the result of a dispute over payment for coffee between Sexton and the clerk. The clerk said Sexton drove away, but returned a short time later carrying a full-size sword as he got out of the vehicle. The clerk locked the doors before Sexton could enter. The clerk reported Sexton yelled, "Come outside now, I'll kill you." A felony aggravated assault warrant was issued against Sexton.

An hour later, a female relative of Sexton's called 911 saying that the family felt Sexton was a danger to others and was armed with a sword. She cited recently posted Instagram videos in which he displayed the sword. A police helicopter spotted Sexton's Hyundai sedan at a carwash on Dickerson Pike and then monitored his driving from the air as he headed onto Bell Grimes Lane and then turned onto Cheshire Drive. Sexton came to a stop on Cheshire Drive with ground units behind him. He got out of the car carrying the sword, while a woman remained in the vehicle, and began yelling at officers. Patrol officers talked with Sexton off and on for more than hour attempting to persuade him to surrender. The female acquaintance in the car told officers she was being held against her will.

SWAT officers were called to the scene. Several had arrived and were beginning to develop a plan of action to bring Sexton into custody. Baney, a 12-year MNPD veteran, was initially directed to assist in blocking Sexton's vehicle with his police truck. He started to do that, got out, took up a position at the rear of a patrol vehicle, and fired on Sexton three times as he held the sword. Sexton was transported to Skyline Medical Center where he died. The woman was not injured.

The MNPD is also conducting a separate administrative investigation into the officer-involved shooting.

Officers had been working to arrest Sexton since Friday on outstanding warrants charging him with order of protection violations and criminal trespassing. He sped away from police and evaded apprehension on Murfreesboro Pike during the noon hour Friday.

A segment of Baney's body-worn camera footage can be seen here: https://youtu.be/hfouOi_Rjak

The 911 call placed by a family member of Sexton during the 9 a.m. hour today can be heard here: https://youtu.be/eczhTHVNnWU