Chief Hambrick’s Statement & Metro-Nashville Police Media Release on Today’s Officer-Involved Shooting

Three of Mt. Juliet’s police officers, in a joint operation with the FBI, were involved in a dangerous situation today that no police officer ever wants to encounter. Our police department family is extremely grateful that our officers and the FBI Agent were not severely wounded or killed. We are so thankful for the overwhelming support from our community for our injured officer, and he is receiving the care he needs. The Metro-Nashville Police Department is conducting an extensive investigation into the officer-involved shooting and all aspects that surround it. I’m very confident in their abilities and resources. A dangerous fugitive is now in custody and has been charged for his felony assault on three of the four law enforcement officers who attempted to take him into custody early this morning. – Chief James Hambrick

Officers Identified:

The two officers who fired their handguns during today’s officer-involved shooting are Corporal Detective Frank DeRiggi (12 years of service) and Corporal Detective Derek Thornhill (3 years of service). Corporal Detective Richard Lutz (3 years of service) was the officer injured during the incident. All three officers’ photos will not be released due to their undercover assignment.

Metro-Nashville Police Media Release:

Fugitive Being Charged with Aggravated Assault for Confrontation with Mt. Juliet Officers & FBI Agent

Arrest warrants are being sought charging Robert P. Bush with three counts of felony aggravated assault against two Mt. Juliet police officers and an FBI agent for putting them in danger when he rammed their vehicles with a pickup truck at 6:30 a.m. as he evaded arrest outside HomeTowne Suites at 1210 Murfreesboro Pike.

The victims as named in the warrants, Mt. Juliet police officers Richard Lutz and Derek Thornhill, and FBI Agent Carla Rexing, were attempting to take Bush, 23, into custody on outstanding warrants from Wilson, Sumner and Davidson Counties, as well as question him concerning an unrelated investigation. Mt. Juliet police officer Frank DeRiggi was also present. As three law enforcement vehicles attempted to box in Bush’s pickup truck to prevent him from fleeing, he rammed two of the vehicles just as three of the law enforcement personnel had gotten out. Two of the Mt. Juliet officers opened fire on the pickup truck. Neither Bush nor his passenger was hit. Bush drove around the motel, let the passenger out (he is considered to be a witness and is not facing charges), and fled the motel property.

Just after 7 a.m., a Hermitage Precinct officer spotted the pickup truck and pursued it on Bell Road. A spike strip was deployed on Bell Road near Stewarts Ferry Pike damaging the truck’s tires. Bush continued driving on Stewarts Ferry Pike and turned right onto Lebanon Pike where, soon thereafter, he crashed. Bush was taken to General Hospital for minor injuries he sustained in the crash.

In addition to aggravated assault, Bush is being charged with felony evading arrest, driving on a suspended license, and vandalism for his actions today. He was also booked on outstanding warrants charging him with evading arrest in July, reckless driving, driving on a suspended license and failure to appear in court.

The MNPD’s centralized Homicide Unit is investigating the Mt. Juliet officers’ gunfire at Bush’s pickup truck. The results of that investigation will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office.