WARNING: Body camera video in this story may be disturbing to watch. Discretion is advised.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — A four-year Metro Nashville Police veteran was injured in a shooting Thursday afternoon near Nashville International Airport and is expected to be OK. The suspect is dead.
Police released body camera video belonging to Officer Donovan Coble late Thursday night. Watch it below or click here.
In a press conference Thursday afternoon, MNPD spokesperson Don Aaron said Metro officers were called around 2:30 p.m. to an airport parking facility named The Parking Spot on Donelson Pike in response to an armed man breaking into cars.
Coble, 33, is a detective with the department’s Community Field Intelligence Unit at the Hermitage precinct. Police say Coble spotted the gunman in a rear parking lot and ordered the suspect to stop. That’s when the suspect “ran and jumped the fence.”
Authorities say Detective Coble pursued the suspect and came under fire. Police say Coble was shot in his side and was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in critical condition. The department confirmed Friday afternoon Det. Coble is no longer critical and is listed as stable.
Other responding officers later encountered the suspect in a brush pile area off Upshaw Drive. The suspect reportedly fired a shot towards SWAT officers. One SWAT member returned fire.
The 37-year-old suspect was also taken to Vanderbilt where he died. Police have identified him as Delama Casimir. He was carrying a Florida driver's license with a Pompano Beach address.
Investigators have recovered Casimir's semi-automatic pistol from the scene.
“It’s still very much an open investigation,” Metro Police Chief John Drake said. “We did find a weapon near the scene, but we’re actively looking to see if there’s more shell casings or anything else.”
Police say they’ll continue to process the scene throughout the evening.
Chief Drake told reporters Coble’s lung had to be reinflated. Coble’s wife and mother are already with him at Vanderbilt.
“We take care of our people, so any of [Coble's] family that comes into the airport, we’ll get them to the hospital and to him.”
Coble and his wife are parents to one-year-old twins. The detective was just honored Tuesday night as Officer of the Year by the Exchange Club of Donelson - Hermitage.
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