Family demands justice, reform after Mt. Juliet police shooting
It started with a traffic stop and a barking dog named Buttercup.
About 15 minutes later, it ended in gunshots.
Eric Jermaine Allen, a passenger in a vehicle, was fatally shot by Mt. Juliet Police Sgt. Josh Lo. Allen was 39.
The Tennessean on Wednesday obtained body camera and dash camera footage that showed the Nov. 2 traffic stop and the ensuing shooting. It occurred on South Mt. Juliet Road near Central Pike, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Nashville attorney Terry Clayton, who is representing Allen's family, said police could have avoided the fatal shooting through de-escalation.
"There's always opportunity for officers to reduce the danger and talk people down," Clayton said.
Supposed to be an easy stop
Shortly after 11 p.m. on Nov. 2, Lo stopped a speeding vehicle with a female driver. Lo told the woman it would be an "easy one." She was being cited for driving without a license and insurance. The officer added that the vehicle would not be towed.
"If you go out and get your license before your court date, they will dismiss it," Lo said to the woman.
At least two officers were on the scene. In the video, cars can be seen driving by at high rates of speed.
After Lo addressed the driver several feet behind the vehicle, he then turned to Allen, who was asked to exit the vehicle. Allen took off his seatbelt and leaned in the direction of the driver's side in a manner which alerted Lo.
Lo: "Hey! Quit reaching. Quit rea... Quit, quit."
Allen: "I don't got nothing."
Lo: "OK. You're scaring the crap out of me doing that. All right. Don't reach for anything."
Allen responded again with a few words — his tone faint on Lo's body camera footage.
Lo: "All right. You want to grab Buttercup for me? She's right there on your side."
Allen rolled up the passenger-side window. In a hushed tone, Lo told Allen to step out the vehicle. Allen responded by raising both his hands.
About 14 minutes into the footage, Lo opened the door as Allen moved from the passenger seat to the driver seat.
Lo: "Hey. What, what are you doing? What are you doing! What are you doing! Stop!"
Buttercup jumped out the vehicle.
Lo: "Don't you go nowhere! "Don't you go nowhere!"
Allen began driving.
Verbal commands, taser and gunshots
Lo shouted verbal commands while grabbing Allen. He used a taser. But Allen continued to drive with the officer in the vehicle — Mt. Juliet police termed Lo as "trapped."
Lo repeatedly yelled, "I'm going to shoot you," as Allen continued driving for several feet.
Lo shot Allen multiple times.
Police pulled Allen from the vehicle. Lo began chest compressions, pumping more than 60 repetitions.
The TBI has investigated the case, which is still open, though findings have been turned over to the District Attorney General’s Office, TBI spokesperson Susan Niland said.
The District Attorney's Office will begin the review process soon, with the final pieces of the investigation recently added to the case file, District Attorney General Jason Lawson said.
Lo was initially placed on administrative leave. The officer returned to duty Nov. 30 after a wellness period and preliminary review of the shooting, according to the Mt. Juliet Police Department.
"I have all the confidence in the world in Josh Lo and all the confidence in the Mt. Juliet Police Department (and) that they are handling this in the right manner," said Mt. Juliet City Commissioner Ray Justice, a retired Wilson County sheriff's deputy.
Family's lawyer seeks justice
Clayton told The Tennessean the family is seeking police reform after Allen's shooting.
Though Allen was in the vehicle during the traffic stop, Clayton said police should have never asked for his identification or asked him to step out of the vehicle as Lo did right before Allen drove away.
"It bothers me that he was an innocent passenger," Clayton said, calling the incident a violation of Allen's rights. "It appears that officers are not being trained to de-escalate."
With multiple police shootings in Nashville, Clayton is urging lawmakers to take action to eliminate qualified immunity so officers can be part of lawsuits and held to a higher standard.
"Legislatures need to know the citizens are demanding officers treat people with dignity and that it is not open season on a person in a car," Clayton said.
Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles. Reach reporter Craig Shoup by email at cshoup@gannett.com and on Twitter @Craig_Shoup. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to www.tennessean.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Mt. Juliet police shooting: Family demands justice, reform
