Police identify inmate killed in 100 Oaks Mall shooting involving Robertson Co. deputies
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — UPDATE (6/29): Metro Nashville Police said a convicted bank robber stabbed a deputy during a bathroom break Wednesday at a Vanderbilt clinic at One Hundred Oaks Mall.
Prisoner Rodney Cole, 37, was shot and killed at the scene. Robertson County Deputy Josh Wiley, 36, is in critical condition with injuries from the stabbing and gunfire. He underwent a second surgery Thursday.
MNPD Spokesperson Kris Mumford said Rodney Cole had a medical condition and visited the Vanderbilt Comprehensive Care Clinic frequently for check-ups.
Police said Cole asked to use the restroom during the clinic visit and was escorted inside the bathroom by Wiley.
Shortly after, Wiley's partner, Deputy Tomisha Jones, heard him yelling her name. She went in the bathroom to find Cole on top of Wiley, stabbing him with a long screwdriver.
Metro Police said Jones fired at Cole. As the struggle between the officers and the inmate continued into the hallway, Jones told investigators Cole briefly had her weapon.
Cole and Wiley then exchanged gunfire and both men were hit. Sometime during the struggle, Jones regained control of her gun and fired shots.
Cole died in the hallway from the gunshot wounds. Police said they may never exactly know exactly whether gunfire from Cole or Jones hit Wiley.
Police are also investigating how the prisoner got the screwdriver and how he was restrained during the trip to the bathroom. Mumford said she believed the prisoner arrived at the clinic in handcuffs and shackles.
The MNPD said Cole is a convicted bank robber. He was previously convicted of aggravated robbery, robbery, burglary and theft.
According to the MNPD, Cole was sentenced to 15 years for aggravated robbery in Montgomery County in 2014. He was awaiting sentencing for a 2013 hold-up of Capital Bank in Clarksville, Tennessee. He was convicted of that hold-up in April 2017.
Cole also had previous convictions in Davidson County for robbery, attempted carjacking, aggravated burglary, and evading arrest.
Wiley is in critical condition and receiving major surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Crews on the scene said he was shot in the arm and the abdomen. He was reported as conscious and "very responsive" during transport. Tomisha Jones, 26, was not injured but is suffering from traumatic stress.
The lockdown at One Hundred Oaks Mall was lifted around 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday. Emergency crews shut down several roads including Thompson Lane following the shooting.
The clinic has since reopened as normal.
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UPDATE: (6 p.m.) Metro Nashville Police said a convicted bank robber stabbed a deputy during a bathroom break Wednesday at a Vanderbilt clinic at One Hundred Oaks Mall.
Inmate Rodney Cole, 37, died at the scene. Robertson County Deputy Josh Wiley is in critical condition with injuries from the stabbing and gunfire.
MNPD Spokesperson Kris Mumford said Rodney Cole had a medical condition and visited the Vanderbilt clinic frequently for check-ups.
Police said Cole asked to use the restroom during the clinic visit and was escorted inside the bathroom by Deputy Wiley.
Shortly after, Wiley's partner Deputy Tomisha Jones heard him yelling her name. She went in the bathroom to find Cole on top of Wiley, stabbing him with a long screw driver.
At some point in the confrontation, Mumford said both deputies fired shots at the inmate. Cole stabbed Wiley several times, but the gunshots caused the most injury to him.
Police are investigating whether or not Cole took one of the deputy's guns, if gunfire was exchanged, and how the prisoner got the screw driver.
They're also looking in to how Cole was restrained during the trip to the bathroom. Mumford said the prisoner arrived at the clinic in handcuffs and shackles.
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Metro Police identified the inmate who was shot and killed after shooting a deputy at 100 Oaks Mall on Wednesday.
Rodney L. Cole, 37, a convicted bank robber fired on Robertson County Deputy Josh Wiley, leaving him critically injured, police said.
Wiley's partner, Deputy Tomisha Jones, was not injured.
Police said the RCSO deputies were escorting an inmate to a clinic at One Hundred Oaks, when the inmate grabbed a deputy's gun and fired.
A crew member on the scene told FOX 17 Nashville they was taking the inmate to a doctor's appointment at the Vanderbilt Medical Center location at the mall when the inmate somehow broke free.
During the confrontation, one of the deputies returned fire. Wiley was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he remains in critical condition.
The lockdown at the mall has since been lifted.
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UPDATE (4:40 p.m.) : The Robertson County Sheriff's Officer confirms a deputy was shot on Wednesday at the 100 Oaks Mall while transporting an inmate.
Police said Robertson Co. Deputy Josh Wiley is in critical condition as of Wednesday afternoon. His partner, Deputy Tomisha Jones, is not injured.
According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, two deputies were involved in the shooting. Police said the RCSO deputies were escorting an inmate to a clinic at One Hundred Oaks, when the inmate grabbed a deputy's gun and fired.
A crew member on the scene told FOX 17 Nashville they were taking the inmate to a doctor's appointment at the Vanderbilt Medical Center location at the mall when the inmate somehow broke free.
During the confrontation, one of the deputies returned fire. Wiley is critically injured and was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
The RCSO says the inmate is dead.
The deputy was reportedly shot in the arm and abdomen. He was reported as conscious and "very responsive" during transport.
A spokesman for Vanderbilt University Medical Center issued the following statement on the shooting:
“This afternoon at one of our clinics on the Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks campus there was an incident involving law enforcement officers from Robertson County escorting an inmate. The incident was quickly resolved but resulted in the inmate being shot and is deceased and one officer being transported to Vanderbilt University Adult Hospital for treatment. There were no other injuries from this incident. In accordance our policies, and out of an abundance of caution, employees and visitors on the One Hundred Oaks campus were advised to shelter in place while a thorough sweep of the building was conducted by law enforcement officers. The safety and well-being of our patients and employees is always our first concern,” said John Howser, Chief Communications Officer, VUMC.
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NASHVILLE, Tenn.--Shots have been fired at 100 Oaks Mall.
Metro Nashville Police confirm two people are down as a result of the shooting. The incident took place on the third floor of the mall.
Police are currently shutting roads near the Thompson Lane location down to make room for emergency vehicles responding to the scene. Expect delays in the area. Police are shutting down Thompsons Lane to Murfreesboro Road, to I-440 for transports.
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