Nashville Police Chief Decommissions Officer in Fatal Sword-Wielding Suspect Shooting

Incident Timeline on Cheshire Drive

The sequence began at 8:00 a.m. on August 29, 2026, when officers responded to a Shell station located at 2112 Charlotte Avenue regarding a dispute between a clerk and Sexton over coffee payment, according to MNPD statements reported by WSMV. The clerk reported that Sexton drove away and subsequently returned carrying a full-size sword while yelling threats. Authorities issued a felony aggravated assault warrant following the confrontation.

A relative of Sexton contacted 911 dispatchers to report that he posed a danger to others and was armed with a sword, referencing recently posted Instagram videos displaying the weapon, according to MNPD. An MNPD helicopter spotted Sexton’s Hyundai sedan at a carwash on Dickerson Pike, tracking the vehicle from the air as it traveled onto Bell Grimes Lane and then to Cheshire Drive, where ground units formed a blockade behind the car.

Sexton exited the vehicle holding the sword and began yelling at officers while a 26-year-old woman remained inside the rear seat, according to police reports. Officers communicated with Sexton intermittently for over more than an hour attempting to secure a surrender. During the standoff, the female occupant informed police that she was being held against her will. SWAT personnel arrived on the scene to formulate a tactical plan.

Officer Deployment and Fatal Shots

Officer Joshua Baney, a 12-year veteran of the department, was initially assigned to assist in blocking Sexton’s vehicle using his police truck, according to MNPD. Baney exited his vehicle, took a position at the rear of a patrol vehicle, and fired three rounds at Sexton as he held the sword. Emergency responders transported Sexton to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead from his injuries. The female passenger sustained no physical injuries during the incident.

MNPD stated that officers had attempted to locate and arrest Sexton since Friday, August 28, 2026, on warrants charging him with order of protection violations and criminal trespassing. Police reported that Sexton evaded capture on Murfreesboro Pike around noon on Friday by speeding away from law enforcement.

Ongoing Investigations

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation leads the independent inquiry into the use of lethal force, as announced by TBI and MNPD officials. Concurrently, the Metro Nashville Police Department initiated a separate administrative investigation into the officer-involved shooting, according to department releases.