- A security guard was fatally shot outside Frugal MacDougal in downtown Nashville, police said
- A suspect was critically hurt after a shootout with officers inside the store
- An investigation into both shootings is now open
A man is in critical condition but stable after being shot by Nashville police in a downtown liquor store Thursday night, the Metro Nashville Police Department said.
Two officers shot at 40-year-old Randy Charles Levi inside Frugal MacDougal after a security guard was fatally shot outside, according to MNPD. The Levi fled into the store, refused to surrender and shot at the officers before police said two of them returned fire. No officers were hurt in the shooting, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Here’s what we know so far.
Who was involved
The scene unfolded around 8:30 pm Thursday at Frugal MacDougal, located at 701 Division Street — less than a mile from Nashville’s popular downtown entertainment district. A large police presence blocked traffic and yellow police tape closed off the surrounding area for part of the night.
The guard was identified as 59-year-old Dickson man Robert Scott Meek. He was pronounced dead upon arrival at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
MNPD spokesperson Don Aaron said Levi was “awake, alert and talking” on Thursday night.
MNPD said Field Training Officer Trevor Taylor, Officer Blake Curry and Officer Steven Luckey arrived less than three minutes after the shooting. Luckey and Curry are the two who shot at Levi, MNPD said. It was not immediately clear which shots struck the man.
Taylor is a five-year MNPD veteran who works in the Central Precinct, police said. Luckey has been on the force for two years and works in the Hermitage Precinct. He was working nearby in the entertainment district Thursday night, according to MNPD. Curry, who works in the Central Precinct, has been with MNPD for 17 months.
How the shooting unfolded
Meek confronted Levi after he reportedly tried to shoplift, police said. Levi fled to a nearby property before coming back to the parking lot and fighting with Meek. Levi then grabbed Meek’s pistol, shot him with it and fled into the store with the gun, MNPD said.
Police said the first 911 call about the shooting came in at 8:26 pm The caller initially mistook the guard as an MNPD officer, according to Aaron.
The officers saw Meek on the ground being tended by someone who told them Levi was in the store.
The officers immediately went inside the store, MNPD said. Taylor found Levi by the cooler. Police said Levi ignored commands to surrender and began shooting at the officers, and that Luckey and Curry returned fire. It was not immediately clear which shots struck Levi.
The footage appeared to show multiple shots exchanged before the man was subdued and handcuffed.
Has anyone been charged or arrested?
Levi remained hospitalized Friday, but officials issued warrants on charges of criminal homicide and three counts of attempted criminal homicide against him, TBI said.
While hospitalized, Levi will be monitored by Metro Nashville Police. Upon his release, he’ll be booked into the Davidson County Jail.
Nashville police release bodycam footage
MNPD posted clips of body-camera footage from all three officers around 2:15 am Friday on its YouTube channel. The roughly four-and-a-half minute video begins with footage from Taylor’s bodycam, who appears to have entered the store first. Taylor pushed a person aside who was trying to enter the store, telling them to move out of the way.
The video then cuts to footage from Curry around the 1:33 mark, who appeared to follow closely behind Taylor and alongside Luckey. The video then cuts to Luckey’s footage around the 3:12 mark.
The footage showed the officers repeatedly announcing they were with MNPD, telling Levi to drop the gun and commanding him to show his hands.
Warning: This video may be upsetting for some viewers
Investigation opened, officers on administrative assignment
MNPD said all three officers are on routine administrative assignment, in keeping with its policy after police shootings.
TBI is leading the investigation into Meek’s shooting and the police shooting, per the request of the District Attorney, MNPD said. More information will be released when it becomes available, TBI spokesperson Susan Niland said.
The MNPD Office of Professional Accountability will also conduct an administrative investigation of the actions of the officers, per department policy.
What happens next
TBI said agents are working to “independently determine the set of events leading to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews.”
Findings will be reported to the District Attorney for further review and consideration, TBI said. TBI will function as a fact-finder in the case and said the decision on whether the officers’ actions were justified rests with the DA.
Find reporter Rachel Wegner at rawegner@tennessean.com or on Twitter @rachelannwegner,