Nashville federal courthouse security officer fatally shoots armed man

A man was fatally shot by a security officer at the Fred D. Thompson Federal Building & Courthouse in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday morning. The suspect, identified by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation as Jack Henson II, was a man in his 40s from out of state.

According to Nashville Metropolitan Police, the incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. at a security checkpoint. Investigators stated that Henson allegedly attempted to fire a pistol, but the weapon jammed. He then reportedly brandished a knife and attempted to attack an officer, prompting the security official to open fire. Henson was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The security personnel at the entrance are typically armed former police officers contracted by the U.S. Marshals Service. The incident caused immediate concern in the area, leading to the evacuation of a nearby library and a heavy police presence. Officials noted that the courthouse houses the local U.S. Attorney's Office and the offices of Tennessee's U.S. senators. The motive for the attack remains under investigation.