Fatal Nashville Police Shooting: NAACP Calls For 'Transparent' Investigation Into Jocques Clemmons' Death; FBI To Monitor

NASHVILLE, TN — At a Monday morning press conference, the Nashville branch of the NAACP called for an immediate and transparent investigation into the shooting death of Jocques Clemmons at Cayce Homes Friday afternoon.

Clemmons was shot and killed by Metro Nashville police officer Joshua Lippert Friday afternoon following a traffic stop from which Clemmons ran. Metro Police say Clemmons had a .357 magnum handgun and had engaged Lippert physically twice before he was shot twice in the lower back and once in the hip. Clemmons died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (for updates on this story and other local news, find and subscribe to your local Middle Tennessee Patch). Metro Police released a series of surveillance videos from the federal housing project late Friday night.

At Monday's press conference, Nashville branch president Ludye Wallace called for a quick, thorough and transparent investigation in to the shootings and for body cameras to be issued to Metro officers.

"We value the efforts of police when they are serving and protecting; however, we will not stand by and allow the disproportionate of violence against African-Americans," Wallace said.

Later Monday afternoon, Metro Police Chief Steve Anderson announced that U.S. Attorney David Rivera informed him that the FBI would monitor and review the MNPD's investigation. Anderson said he "welcomed" the Bureau's involvement and pledged a "full, complete and accountable" investigation.

Mayor Megan Barry said she too believes involving the FBI is the right call.

“We have said all along that there will be a full and thorough investigation of the officer-involved shooting that resulted in the death of Jocques Clemmons. I believe, as does the MNPD, in having on open and transparent process so that the public has access to the facts in this situation as quickly as possible. I support the decision of US Attorney David Rivera to ask the FBI to monitor this investigation so that there will be an independent third-party review and assessment of the investigation at its conclusion,” she said in a statement.

At an afternoon press conference, Anderson said Lippert had been suspended a total of 20 days during his tenure with the department and said further details would be forthcoming.

Barry, Anderson and Rivera met with African-American pastors earlier Monday.

Pledging a full investigation into the fatal shooting of Jocques Clemmons, Chief, Mayor & U.S. Atty met today with African American clergy. pic.twitter.com/ZkkE4EXkyU — Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) February 13, 2017

Metro Police also said they are now looking for a person who was a passenger in Clemmons' SUV who can be seen on surveillance footage leaving the vehicle when the initial foot chase begins.

In a weekend interview with News 2, Clemmons' family described him as a "good man" and a "loving father."

“He was running away from him, you know, clearly he was running away and they shot him in the back. I don’t know why he would run, but I’ll just put it this way: It’s against the law to shoot a man in the back. It’s against the law for the police to shoot anybody in the back,” his stepfather, Karl Tate, told News 2.

Clemmons was convicted of cocaine possession in 2014 and was on probation from that charge. He had numerous arrests, largely for misdemeanor traffic offenses, such as driving on a suspended license, but also a handful of convictions for assault. It is illegal for a convicted felon to be in possession of a firearm and illegal to carry a firearm at a federal housing project.

Lippert, as per protocol, is on administrative assignment pending the investigation.

Image via Metro Nashville Police