A man who fired at a Metro Nashville police officer now faces federal firearms charges, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Tennessee. The man, identified as 21-year-old Knykholas Lane of Nashville, acted out an escalation of alleged criminal behavior while being on probation for previous felony convictions.
On November 19, after a civilian alerted the authorities to a suspect attempting to forcibly enter a residence on Lewis Street, Lane was spotted by officers as the potential perpetrator. The complaint stated that Lane then fled on foot, leading to a chase during which officers saw he was carrying a pistol. Despite being commanded to stop, Lane turned the weapon towards an officer and fired a shot. After the officer had responded with gunfire and hit Lane twice, the man was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, resulting in the recovery of a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol used in the shooting.
Lane's confrontation with the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) officers revealed outstanding warrants for his arrest, including charges of Domestic Violence and False Imprisonment. "Stopping armed felons who put members of our community at risk is among our highest priorities," Acting U.S. Attorney Jaworski told sources. "When those individuals put not just citizens but also our police officers in danger, we will act swiftly to hold offenders accountable."
The potential consequences for Lane, if convicted of the federal firearms violation, could be serious—a maximum of 15 years in federal prison. Behind the incident that unfolded is an intricately woven challenge of protecting public safety while confronting individuals entwined with the justice system and their brush with armed violence. Joint investigative efforts by the MNPD and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have led to these charges, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Kurtzman moving forward with the prosecution.
