100 Oaks Shooting: Robertson County Inmate Killed After Stabbing Deputy, Police Say

NASHVILLE, TN — Authorities said that a Robertson County inmate who attacked a sheriff's deputy near Vanderbilt University's 100 Oaks medical campus is dead after a shooting Wednesday afternoon, according to the sheriff's department.

Two deputies, Josh Wiley and Tomishae Jones, were escorting Rodney L. Cole, 37, to a clinic on a routine medical visit. Cole asked to use the restroom and Wiley accompanied him. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Middle Tennessee Patch morning newsletter.)

Shortly thereafter, Jones heard Wiley call for help. Pushing open the door to the bathroom, she saw Cole on top of Wiley and stabbing him with a long screwdriver, according to police. Jones told investigators she fired at Cole and during the struggle which continued into the hallway, Cole was in possession of her weapon. Jones said she regained control of her weapon and then both deputies fired at Cole, who was struck and died in the hallway. Wiley, who was also struck by gunfire, was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he is in critical condition.

Detectives are working to determine how Cole obtained the screw driver.

Vanderbilt issued an alert about an active shooter at 1:42 and then a second at 1:51 p.m. that said the suspect had been subdued and the threat was over. A third alert, telling people to continue to shelter in place, was sent at 2:09 p.m. MNPD SWAT officers spent hours sweeping the building, eventually lifting the lockdown around 4 p.m.

Cole was serving a 15-year sentence for bank robbery and had previous convictions for aggravated robbery, robbery, burglary and theft.

Images via MNPD