Tags:

Franklin Police Department (FPD) Chief Deb Faulkner has issued a statement and details on a deadly officer-involved shooting of an armed Cool Springs man.

Chief Faulkner statement and BWC footage from Franklin Police Public Affairs on Vimeo.

On Monday, officers opened fire on 37-year-old Stephen Lawrence Tropia as he pointed a gun at police who had responded to a 9-1-1 call placed by his ex-girlfriend.

Tropia died from his injuries at the hospital despite efforts to save him following the incident. Below is the full statement by Chief Faulkner:

"I want to provide an update regarding the call Franklin Officers responded to Monday night July 24, at a Franklin apartment complex.

The 9-1-1 call was received by the Williamson County Emergency Dispatch Center shortly after 6 p.m. The caller was a woman who stated she was the ex-girlfriend of Stephen Lawrence Tropia, age 37. She reported he was suicidal and had a gun.

Three Franklin Police Officers responded to the location to check on the welfare of Mr. Tropia. They were eventually able to get him to talk to them from behind the closed door of his apartment.

As they talked to Mr. Tropia, he said he had a gun--he confirmed he had quarreled with his girlfriend, and he told the Officers he did not care if he lived or died.

The Officers continued to engage him in conversation for almost 15 minutes, again, from behind his door. They tried to assure him they just wanted to help him. They asked him several times if would come out of his apartment but unarmed.

Mr. Tropia chose to come out of his apartment with a gun pointed at our officers.

Seeing the gun pointed directly at them, Officer Brigham VanHook responded in self-defense. Officers immediately rendered medical aid and had him quickly transported to an area hospital. Unfortunately, Mr. Tropia later died at the hospital.