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11 months ago
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Tense bodycam video captures the moment a Tennessee cop shot and killed a man who tried to rob an armored car worker before charging at the officer with a knife in each hand.
At around 9.13am Wednesday, Murfreesboro police responded to a 911 call about an armed robbery at The Oaks Shopping Mall, where Steven James Murphy, 44, had attempted to rob a worker refilling an ATM.
The man, an armored truck driver, 'produced a weapon,' according to officials. Murphy then ran into a nearby Jason's Deli chain restaurant.
Murphy attempted to rob the deli as well. The six employees inside ran to safety.
Officer Adam Claiborne, whose bodycam footage was released amid an ongoing investigation, commanded Murphy to drop the two knives he was holding.
Steven James Murphy, 44, of Murfreesboro, was shot dead after he charged at an officer with knives in both hands
Bodycam video shows Murphy - wearing a Friday the 13th t-shirt - walking towards the cop, who screams at him to drop the weapons
Several gunshots ring out before Murphy falls to the floor. The department confirmed that he was taken to the hospital, where he died from his injuries
In the video, the five-year veteran of the Murfreesboro Police Department enters the deli, and, upon seeing Murphy behind the counter, shouts 'Hey!'
Murphy begins to walk briskly towards the officer, knives raised over his head.
The 44-year-old wears a t-shirt from the horror franchise Friday the 13th, which follows a group of teenage camp counselors who are picked off by a masked killer.
As the man draws closer, Claiborne begins to raise his voice as he points his gun.
'Drop it now!' the officer screams before the video stops and several shots ring out.
Murfreesboro Police spokesperson Larry Flowers fielded questions from reporters outside the shopping center.
'After many repeated commands, our officer had to discharge his service weapon, striking the male subject several times,' Flowers said.
He confirmed that Murphy was taken to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Neither the armored car employee nor the deli workers were harmed.
The responding officer, Adam Claiborne, is a five-year veteran of the police force. He was placed on paid administrative leave as the Office of Professional Responsibility investigates
Murphy attempted to rob an armed vehicle worker at an ATM before heading into the deli and brandishing the knives at the officer
Six employees were working at Jason's Deli when Murphy came in. None of them were harmed, a police spokesperson confirmed
The scene outside The Oats Shopping Mall, where Murphy attempted to commit two robberies Wednesday
'It's a sad day anytime any resident in our city loses their life,' Flowers said. 'Our heart goes out to his family.'
He also extended condolences to Claiborne and his family.
The officer has been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure, as the department's Office of Professional Responsibility conducts an internal investigation.
The OPR will review all available evidence and bodycam video, Flowers explained.
An inquiry into the events leading up to the fatal shooting is being handled by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, at the request of District Attorney Jennings Jones.
During the press conference, the spokesperson warned that 'investigations of this nature do take time' and asked for patience from the community and members of the media.
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