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What started as a manhunt for a would-be killer ended in a dramatic shootout Monday morning on a Nashville bridge—with a suspect down and an officer narrowly escaping serious injury.
Metro Nashville Police had been hunting 29-year-old Tadarius Milan Hunt since late Sunday. According to investigators, Hunt shot a Nashville Rescue Mission employee multiple times outside the Lafayette Street shelter after the man had barred him from the property.
The victim was hit in the chest and legs, and while he remains in extremely critical condition, he was somehow able to speak with detectives before undergoing surgery.
By Monday morning, officers knew who they were after—and they weren’t taking chances.
Just after 11 a.m., Officer Jaren Breece, a 13-year MNPD veteran, spotted Hunt walking near 8th Avenue on Division Street. Body cam footage shows Breece calmly approaching, calling out, “Hey buddy, come here… let me see your hands.”
That’s when things went south.
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Hunt took off. Officer Clayton Lewis—a nine-year veteran—rushed in from the other side of the bridge for backup. But Hunt wasn’t running just to escape. He pulled a 9mm pistol and opened fire, striking Lewis in the leg. Fortunately, it was just a graze wound.
Both officers returned fire, striking Hunt on the bridge. He was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center but later died.
His handgun was recovered at the scene.
Police body cam footage caught the chaos in real time. After shots rang out, you can hear Lewis call out, “Are you hit?” before answering himself, “I think I got hit in the leg.”
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Davidson County District Attorney’s Office are reviewing the incident. As standard, MNPD will also conduct an internal review to ensure everything met departmental standards.
Bottom line? When officers say someone is armed and dangerous, they mean it. The bridge showdown could’ve ended much worse—but thanks to quick action and solid training, the bad guy’s gun went quiet, and both officers walked away.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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The officers did a bang up job, pun intended. This is a case that ended well. I’m glad to hear the officer was not seriously hurt. He will need a new pair of trousers. Job well done sirs.
Damn good thing they had body cameras on and the NPD released a communication in a timely manner. Failing that we’d have “White police officers gun down black jogger in Nashville” as headlines. We still might anyway.
I can’t be the only one who now recognizes that – and let me be as clear as I can be – THE COPS ARE NO LONGER THE “GOOD GUYS.” I couldn’t care less if a couple dozen of them had spent the night on a cold slab at the nearest morgue. Cops are nothing but organized crime in spiffy costumes.
So then, who are the “GOOD GUYS”?
Tadarius Milan Hunt? Sean Combs? Tupac? Goerge Floyd? Jeff Epstein? Father Pfleger? Howard Stern? Submit your own list of barf bags.
Every organization has the complicated mix of both human virtue and vice.
So, you do not care if a couple of dozen are killed but I bet you would immediately call 911 if some young child member of your family was missing. Go on record and deny my bet.
The best part of the bridge shooting is that there will be no court costs for the preditor. Burial costs if any will be a whole lot less than a trial. Also there is no chance he will ever commit any other crime.
good riddance
good job MNPD!
When are BLM, antiFA, and Reverend Al showing up for the “mostly peaceful” protests?
Hard for NPD to be more professional than in this instance.
hez waz a guud boy jus turnin hiz lyf arownd and da pole-lice juz shoots him ded