Police identified the three SmileDirectEmployees who were shot as security guard Johnny Hardin, security guard Carlton Watson and manager Thomas Abbott.
Hardin, 46, is currently in critical condition, while Watson, 66, is stable. Abbott has already been treated and released from the medical center, according to a tweet from the Metro Nashville Police Department.
The shooting occurred around 6 a.m. at the facility in Antioch, which is southeast of Nashville, MNPD spokesperson Don Aaron said during a new conference.
The alleged shooter left the facility after opening fire, and police tracked him down at the intersection of Antioch Pike and Franklin Limestone Rd., Aaron said. They ordered the suspected gunman to put down his weapon, a semiautomatic pistol with an extended magazine, but the officers shot him when he aimed the firearm at them.
Officers rendered medical aid to the man at the intersection and transported him to a medical facility, where he died from his injuries, according to Aaron. Police haven’t yet confirmed the man’s name, but said that he was 22-years-old and an employee of the SmileDirectClub facility since June.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced that it would be stepping in to investigate the incident because it involved an officer shooting.
SmileDirectClub released a statement on Twitter after the shooting saying the company was “saddened” and working with authorities in their investigation.
“The safety of our team members is a top priority for our company and we maintain strict security protocols and a no weapons policy at all of our facilities,” the statement said.
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Hardin, 46, is currently in critical condition, while Watson, 66, is stable. Abbott has already been treated and released from the medical center, according to a tweet from the Metro Nashville Police Department.
Upon arriving, he found police cars and other employees gathered outside the building who told him about the shooting. Soroba has worked at the plant for two years, and Tuesday was the first day he did not arrive on time, he said.
One of the victims is in critical condition, Aaron said, but did not specify which one. Another employee, a female, injured her ankle while running away from the shooting.
“Obviously a very trying morning for the employees here to try and make sense of what happened, as well as our police officers. When you see active shootings calls around the country, you always hope and pray that those will not happen here. Well, one happened here this morning,” Aaron said during a news conference.
Metro Nashville Police Department spokesman Don Aaron said during a news conference that officers found the gunman at an intersection outside the SmileDirectClub facility and shot him when he aimed his gun at them.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced that it would be stepping in to investigate the incident because it involved an officer shooting.
The witness said the man, who she didn’t recognize, shot out the front glass of the building and shot a security guard, though authorities have not yet confirmed where the three injured employees worked in the building.
The company affirmed that security personnel quickly contained the situation and they were working with authorities in their investigation.
“The safety of our team members is a top priority for our company and we maintain strict security protocols and a no weapons policy at all of our facilities,” the statement said.
He began working at the facility in June, and was also employed there for a short stint between late 2019 and early 2020, MNPD said in a tweet. It is believed that he acted alone.
An official from the Metro Nashville Police Department said that because the suspected gunman, who is now deceased, was shot by one of the department’s officers, the case warranted an outside investigation from the state agency.
The alleged shooter left the facility after opening fire, and police tracked him down at the intersection of Antioch Pike and Franklin Limestone Rd., an official said. They ordered the suspected gunman to put down his weapon, a semiautomatic pistol with an extended magazine, but he was shot when he aimed the firearm at the officers.
Officers rendered medical aid to the man at the intersection and transported him to a medical facility, where he died from his injuries, according to the official.
Authorities said that more research needs to be done to determine a motive. The suspect’s name and those he shot have not been released publicly.
