Horrifying moment suspect who tried to rob an armored car worker refilling ATM charges at cops with two knives – before officer shoots 44-year-old dead
Tense bodycam video captures the moment a Tennessee police officer fatally shot a man who tried to rob an armored car employee before charging at the officer with a knife in each hand.
Around 9:13 a.m. Wednesday, Murfreesboro police responded to a 911 call about an armed robbery at The Oaks Shopping Mall, where Steven James Murphy, 44, had attempted to rob an employee who was refilling an ATM.
The man, an armored truck driver, “produced a weapon,” officials said. Murphy then came across a nearby restaurant of the Jason’s Deli chain.
Murphy also tried to rob the deli. The six employees inside ran to safety.
Officer Adam Claiborne, whose bodycam footage was released during an ongoing investigation, ordered Murphy to drop the two knives he was holding.
Steven James Murphy, 44, of Murfreesboro, was shot and killed after attacking an officer with knives in both hands
Bodycam video shows Murphy – wearing a Friday the 13th t-shirt – walking towards the officer, who yells at him to drop the weapons
Several gunshots ring out before Murphy falls to the ground. The department confirmed he was taken to hospital, where he died from his injuries
In the video, the five-year veteran of the Murfreesboro Police Department enters the deli and when he sees Murphy behind the counter, he shouts “Hey!”
Murphy begins walking briskly toward the officer, with the knives raised above his head.
The 44-year-old is wearing a t-shirt from the horror franchise Friday the 13th, which follows a group of teenage camp counselors who are picked up by a masked killer.
As the man approaches, Claiborne begins to raise his voice as he aims his gun.
“Drop it now!” the officer shouts before the video cuts and several shots ring out.
Murfreesboro Police spokesman Larry Flowers answered questions from reporters outside the mall.
“After many repeated commands, our officer was forced to fire his service weapon, striking the male subject several times,” Flowers said.
He confirmed that Murphy was taken to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Neither the armored car worker nor the deli workers were injured.
The responding officer, Adam Claiborne, is a five-year veteran of the force. He was placed on paid administrative leave while the Office of Professional Responsibility investigated
Murphy attempted to rob an armed vehicle attendant at an ATM before entering the deli and waving the knives at the officer
Six employees were working at Jason’s Deli when Murphy entered. None of them were injured, a police spokesperson confirmed.
The scene outside The Oats Shopping Mall where Murphy attempted two robberies on Wednesday
“It is a sad day every time a resident of our city loses their life,” Flowers said. “Our hearts go out to his family.”
He also extended his condolences to Claiborne and his family.
The officer has been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure as the department’s Office of Professional Responsibility conducts an internal investigation.
The OPR will review all available evidence and bodycam video, Flowers explained.
An investigation into the events leading up to the fatal shooting is being handled by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at the request of District Attorney Jennings Jones.
During the press conference, the spokesperson warned that “these types of investigations take time” and asked for patience from the community and members of the media.